Leeds United have appointed Jesse Marsch as their new manager, so don’t be surprised if the links to Liverpool’s Takumi Minamino come up again this summer.
Marcelo Bielsa has gone, with a painful exit taking place on Sunday having lost 4-0 to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday afternoon.
Nobody wanted Bielsa’s time to end this way, but Leeds wasted no time finding a replacement amid that emotional exit.
Jesse Marsch has been brought in, landing a new job having been sacked by RB Leipzig back in December.
Marsch’s first job is to keep Leeds in the Premier League; right now, little else matter around Elland Road.
Still, Victor Orta will have surely discussed summer transfer targets with Marsch in order to get planning done early.
With that in mind, don’t be surprised to see Leeds make a renewed move for Liverpool attacker Minamino.
The Independent reported in January that Liverpool had rejected an approach from Leeds for Japanese star Minamino.
Bielsa and Orta considered another move, seemingly desperate to bring Minamino to Leeds – but it just couldn’t be done.
So why would Leeds go back in for Minamino? Well, Marsch is a major selling point.
Marsch was Minamino’s manager at Red Bull Salzburg, developing him to the point where Liverpool moved in to sign him.
In 22 games under Marsch, Minamino racked up nine goals and 11 assists; a quite stunning record and the best run of Minamino’s career to date.
Marsch has also made it clear just how highly he rates Minamino. Speaking to ESPN in 2020, Marsch indicated he actually wanted to sign Minamino for New York Red Bulls before finally coaching him in Austria.
Marsch has called Minamino ‘really intelligent’, praising his tactical understanding even if the 27-year-old isn’t an especially explosive athlete.
You have to think Minamino may be open to such a move too.
Working with Marsch again has to be appealing, whilst chance of first-team action at Liverpool are even less likely now Luis Diaz is on board.
It may take a permanent move elsewhere to get Minamino back on track, and it’s clear that Leeds were willing to give him a shot in January.
With Orta and Marsch seemingly on the same page about Minamino, a move to Leeds this summer finally makes sense for the Liverpool man.
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