As Liverpool search for midfield reinforcements this summer, they have been given a potential big boost in their pursuit of Mainz ace Kaishu Sano.
Signing a new midfielder ahead of next season feels like priority transfer business for the Reds, with new life needing to be injected in the middle of the park.
A host of names appear to be in the mix for Liverpool, from Ayyoub Bouaddi to Adam Wharton, and Sano also looked to be an option for the Merseysiders.
In quotes provided by Sport Witness, Mainz sporting director Niko Bungert has claimed that the Bundesliga club will listen to offers for the 25-year-old Lille man, acting as a boost for Liverpool:
“It’s obvious that a player who has played two years in the Bundesliga and was outstanding at the World Cup, probably the best player in his position, is in demand. There’s no doubt there are interested parties. It’s well known that England is the league where outstanding players usually move.
“Our big advantage is that the player still has a long-term contract, so we’re under no pressure at all and won’t be rushing anything.”
“If a club comes along with an offer, we’ll consider it. If, in our view, it’s not high enough for the player’s market value, then it’s also possible that Kaish will stay with us longer. As of today, everything is still open. But we know, of course, that we have a player who is generating a lot of interest.”
Is Kaishu Sano good enough to thrive in Liverpool’s midfield?
Sano stands out as another shrewd target for Liverpool, having become a key man for Mainz and Japan, starting all three of his country’s matches at the 2026 World Cup, completing 90.5% of his passes.
He is at a great point in his career, picking up lots of experience but also being young enough to improve further in the coming years, and he would add defensive quality in front of the Reds’ defence.
While Sano arguably isn’t a high-profile target for Liverpool, he would be a cheaper option than some of those mentioned above, and Andoni Iraola could see him as an excellent squad player.
The fact that Mainz appear to be open to selling the Japan international can only be a good thing for the Reds, during a summer in which they must nail their transfer business.
