Liverpool sign Manchester United targets

On Thursday morning, an exclusive broke that Liverpool were closing
in on Salzburg creator Takumi Minamino.

Erling Haaland has attracted
the bulk of the attention of Europe's elite in for the Austrian
powerhouse, while Hwang Hee-Chan ended the group stages of the
Champions League as Salzburg's highest rated player with a
WhoScored rating of 7.69.

However, the Reds are now closing in on the bargain buy of Minamino
for a rumoured £7.25m. In a world where fees are inflated each
passing year, to sign the Japanese midfielder for so low is a steal with
the Reds taking advantge of such a lowly release clause.

Liverpool
fans bore witness to the 24-year-old up close and personal when the
European champions secured a narrow 4-3 win over Salzburg in an
entertaining encounter back in October.
Minamino scored one and assisted another on the night to return a
WhoScored rating of 8.16 on Merseyside.

He'd go on to end the group
stages of the Champions League with two goals and three assists;
only Riyad Mahrez and Hakim Ziyech (both four) provided more
assists.

Salzburg had done their homework on Minamino having tracked him
for 18 months before making their move for the Japan international in
2015 after Cerezo Osaka's relegation.

He has been a prominent
member of this exciting Salzburg side since his move and while some
may be reluctant to make a move for Minamino, a player who has
made just 29 appearances outside of the Austrian Bundesliga, his
Champions League performances against European powerhouses like
Liverpool and Napoli suggests he is ready to take the next step in his
career.

1.2 tackles and 0.5 interceptions per game in the Champions League
suggests that, despite playing in a number 10 role, Minamino is willing
to get stuck in to pressure opposition midfielders and defenders in a
bid to help create chances and spring attacks on suspecting
opponents. In this high pressing Salzburg side - the Austrian side
ranked second for tackles per game (21.2) and possession won in the
attacking third (46) in the group stages - this approach is not too
dissimilar to Liverpool's.

Crucially still is that Minamino carries out his creative qualities to a
high standard when he does win the ball for his side.

He made a total
of 12 key passes in the group stages of the Champions League, that
ranking 15th. Of those 12 key passes, all were from open play;
teammate Hwang Hee-Chen (14) topped this metric.

As possible cover, or even support, for Roberto Firmino, Minamino
would be ideal.

While not a striker, the former isn't a conventional out
and out frontman and routinely drops between the lines in Liverpool's
favoured 4-3-3 setup, and this allows for Mohamed Salah and Sadio
Mane to run riot from the right and left, respectively.

 It's clear, too,
that Liverpool are robbed of one of their prized frontmen when Firmino
doesn't feature from the off as the Reds lack the aggression and
tenacity the Brazilian offers the side.
Minamino's positional versatility is an added bonus for Klopp, with the
player also able to operate out wide, as he did to great effect in the 4-3
loss at Liverpool, or in a deeper midfield position.

 And while he may
take some time to adjust the physical rigours of English football, for
such a low fee, it's a gamble worth taking as Liverpool signal their
January transfer window intentions and make their move to secure one
of the bargain buys of the winter.