Minamino mind set on Monaco
MONACO have emerged as favourites to sign Liverpool attacking midfielder Takumi Minamino in a £17million deal.
The Japan star’s adviser has been in Europe to broker the 27-year-old’s imminent departure from Anfield.
And the belief at the club is that Monaco is now his preferred destination, despite strong interest from Lyon and Atalanta.
It means the Reds will make almost £10m on a player they bought from Red Bull Salzburg in
January 2020 after triggering his £7.25m release clause.
Minamino has been a popular figure at Anfield but has been unable to command a regular place in Jurgen Klopp’s team.
He spent six months on loan at Southampton but returned to Anfield last season and seven of the 10 goals he scored came in the domestic cup competitions.
Strengthen
Minamino’s departure makes it unlikely Klopp will allow Alex Oxladechamberlain to go.
The club plan to strengthen their midfield next summer when Oxladechamberlain (below), Naby Keita and James Milner will all be out of contract.
The Ox made just 17 appearances last season, but Klopp was impressed with his attitude when Keita departed to the AFCON and the squad was hit by Covid.
Despite claims that Steven Gerrard wants to take the former England international to Aston Villa, it has been made clear to the player that Klopp doesn’t want to lose him.
The 28-year-old, a £35m signing from Arsenal five years ago, has suffered a succession of injury problems during his time on Merseyside.
But he has stayed fit over the last 18 months and Liverpool would prefer to lose him on a free in 12 months rather than sell him and be forced back into the market for a midfielder.