According to the Liverpool Echo, Liverpool have decided to keep hold of Takumi Minamino despite mounting interest in his signature.
Liverpool paid just £7.25million to sign Minamino from Red Bull Salzburg in January 2020, handing him a £75,000-a-week deal – but he has yet to really make an impact with the Reds.
In January, he was loaned out to Southampton in order to gain more Premier League experience before heading back to Anfield for next term.
How did Minamino fare at Southampton?
The Japanese international scored twice in 10 outings for Southampton, scoring against Newcastle United and Chelsea.
Minamino, 26, maybe still didn’t hit top form with the Saints, but Ralph Hasenhuttl has now admitted that talks have been held over a new deal.
That could be a permanent move or another loan, but it seems that Minamino has done enough for Hasenhuttl to want to keep him.
What does the future hold for Minamino at Liverpool?
The Echo claim that clubs in the Premier League and Bundesliga want to sign Minamino, but he is in Jurgen Klopp’s plans and will not be let go.
Liverpool feel that a full pre-season will benefit Minamino and won’t sanction another loan move, meaning Southampton may well miss out.
Last month, Klopp predicted that Minamino would become an ‘important player’ for Liverpool in the future, and this decision certainly lines up with that comment.
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