Liverpool could sell Takumi Minamino this summer and with Southampton in talks with them over his future, they must demand a sell-on clause and/or a buy-back clause to guarantee the best possible outcome.
The silky Japanese forward arrived at the club for £7.25million in January 2020 but has struggled to make a real impact and subsequently moved to Southampton on loan during the winter transfer window this year.
It was a positive experience and the Saints want to take him back this summer and could potentially make the deal permanent.
What has been said?
We covered a report from Hampshire Live a week ago which claimed that Liverpool are set for talks over Takumi Minamino’s future once he returns from international duty following a positive loan spell with Southampton.
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 06: Southampton player Takumi Minamino scores the first Southampton goal past goalkeeper Karl Darlow during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Southampton at St. James Park on February 06, 2021 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Hampshire Live now reports that with talks yet to be held with Minamino, there are two ‘options on the table’ as Liverpool weigh up what they want to do with a player that is on £75,000/week or £3.9million/year.
“It is never nice for a player when you don’t end up getting the game time that you want to have, when you only train and are not see as part of the first 11,” Hasenhuttl said while speaking to Hampshire Live about Minamino.
Liverpool are in confirmed talks over the Japanese forward and while I wish it had worked out for him at Anfield, it doesn’t seem as though he will be at the club by the end of the transfer window.
Michael Edwards must demand this
While things have seemingly gone awry for Minamino at Liverpool, he can still develop into a brilliant player and sporting director Michael Edwards needs to safeguard the club’s future to make sure that letting him go doesn’t become a regret.
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 23: Takumi Minamino of Southampton reacts after a missed chance during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Southampton at London Stadium on May 23, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by John Sibley – Pool/Getty Images)
If Liverpool let him go, it would be prudent to include a sell-on clause or even a buy-back clause. This will ensure that whatever happens with the 26-year-old down the line, the Reds can rest assured they made the best decision.
Minamino arrived with high expectations, with some fans likening him to Roberto Firmino and while he hasn’t met them, he can still enjoy a great career in the Premier League with the Saints.
A rare transfer flop from Klopp
Minamino is one of the few transfers that hasn’t worked out as expected, with Naby Keita another.
KIRKBY, ENGLAND – MARCH 09: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Naby Keita of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Training Centre on March 9, 2021 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
While both come from the RB football network, the same isn’t likely to happen with Konate, who is considered by the RB Leipzig coaching staff to be the future best centre-back in the world.
He cost the Reds £36million and will be paid £18.2million over the course of his five-year contract at Anfield.
