Takumi Minamino has decided he wants to stay at Liverpool for the rest of the season despite Luis Diaz’s arrival.
The Colombian has sealed a big-money move from Porto and is expected to immediately make an impact for the Reds even if only from the bench initially and this was expected to have a knock-on effect on Minamino’s transfer plans.
Unless there is a late change in plans, the Japan international will not leave Anfield before the 11pm deadline tonight.
Despite a report from Leeds Live that claimed Minamino is a target for the Whites as Marcelo Bielsa looks to bolster his side’s bid to remain in the Premier League, it looks as though he could stay at Anfield.
According to GOAL’s Neil Jones, Minamino wants to stay at the club although late bids could arrive for Divock Origi but given how the former helped Liverpool reach the Carabao Cup final this season, it’s only fair he wants to help finish the job.
Minamino’s Carabao excellence this season deserves an extra six months
I can’t be the only one that feels a little sad for Minamino.
He’s not world-class but there’s no denying that he’s a talented player and this season he’s shown that he’s excellent at finishing.
He joined the Reds for a £7.25m fee two years ago and while he’s definitely improved, I’m beginning to wonder if he will move on at the end of the season if he doesn’t leave today.
It’s a real shame that he skied the chance that fell to him against Arsenal in the first leg of the semi-final as he has 4 goals and 1 assist in 5 Carabao Cup appearances this season but as much as those numbers are decent, Liverpool need more from a 27-year-old forward.
The former RB Salzburg star will wonder what more he can do than take his chances when they come to him (and he has been) but when you’re only a few years off 30 and you’re not getting any league starts, something is wrong.
We’re past the midway point this season and yet Minamino has yet to start a single Premier League game.
That’s a worrying takeaway for any player and if he does stay at the club as it’s looking likely, I wonder, with Diaz arriving and Mane and Salah soon to return from AFCON, how long will it take for the Japanese forward to get his first league start of the season?
I’d like nothing more than for Minamino to make a success of his Anfield career but it really doesn’t seem likely that he’ll suddenly turn into a 15-20 goal forward.
