Liverpool set £17m asking price for midfielder Takumi Minamino amid interest from Wolves and Fulham… with Japan international set to follow Divock Origi out of the Anfield exit this summer
- Takumi Minamino played a key role in Liverpool winning the FA and League Cup
- But he made just 11 appearances in the Premier League for the Reds last season
- Wolves and Fulham are interested in the 27-year-old Japan international
- Southampton, Leeds and Monaco have also been credited with an interest
Liverpool want £17million for Japan midfielder Takumi Minamino, 27, who has attracted interest from Wolves and Fulham.
The 27-year-old played a key role in the Reds’ FA Cup and League Cup glory last season as the club’s top goalscorer in domestic cup competitions with seven.
But he made just 11 appearances in the Premier League – scoring three goals in the process – for Jurgen Klopp’s side in 2021-22.
Liverpool want £17million for Wolves and Fulham midfield target Takumi Minamino
The 27-year-old played a key role in the Reds’ FA Cup and League Cup glory last season
Minamino is therefore likely to leave Anfield in search of more regular game time, with Southampton, Leeds and Monaco also credited with an interest.
Klopp admitted in March he had found it hard not to include the Japanese star in his squad more often last season.
‘It is incredibly hard for him and for me as well because it is really tough these kind of things,’ Klopp said. ‘Taki is in an incredible moment.’
The German then hinted Minamino and Divock Origi – whose departure has already been confirmed – would move on, adding: ‘It is unlikely with the size of the squad that we now stay exactly like this together.
But despite cup competition goals, the Japan midfielder made just 11 league appearances
‘For sure, some of the players do not play often enough for their own understanding and we will see what will come in the summer and find solutions for those situations.’
‘One of the hardest things I have to do at the moment – Taki not involved,’ said Klopp last month. ‘It’s really hard because the last thing he deserves is not being involved. He trains incredible.’
‘Since Taki came here he improved a lot, I like a lot the steps he made.
‘How he deals with the setbacks is insane, the setbacks of not being involved from time to time and it’s really hard.
Jurgen Klopp admitted he had found it hard not to include the Japanese star in his squad
‘He never gives up, he always stays positive, he always goes for everything and he’s a big part of the story of this team this year and last year.’
Minamino joined Liverpool from Red Bull Salzburg in a £7.25million deal ahead of the January transfer window in 2019.
Having seen little game time too in 2020-21, he headed out on loan to Southampton for the second half of last season and made 10 appearances before returning to Anfield.
The midfielder has scored 14 goals in 55 appearances during his Reds career.