Liverpool have completed the signing of RB Salzburg attacking midfielder Takumi Minamino after activating the player’s release clause for a bargain £7.25 million.
The Japan international will join up with his new teammates on January 1 after signing a four-and-a-half-year deal – and the Reds’ former Champions League-winning forward Luis Garcia has reacted on Twitter.
Minamino, 24, was quickly snapped up by the European champions after starring against Liverpool in the Champions League group stages.
The former Cerezo Osaka player scored at Anfield in the Reds’ dramatic 4-3 victory against Salzburg back in September. The creative attacker emerged as a potential target before Minamino battled with Liverpool in Group E.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 18: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Takumi Minamino signs for Liverpool Football Club on December 18, 2019 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
The Reds have handed the midfielder the No.18 shirt and will supply some much-needed midfield-depth to the likes of Adam Lallana, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gini Wijnaldum, Jordan Henderson and Fabinho. With nine goals and 11 assists already this season, Minamino could even rival Roberto Firmino for a position as Liverpool’s attacking focal point.
Garcia, 41, was also welcomed to Liverpool as a versatile attacking-minded forward in 2004 and quickly emerged a cult hero on Merseyside. The former Barcelona star scored some vital goals for the Reds as the Spaniard helped guide the Reds towards their fifth European Cup in 2005.
Speaking on his personal Twitter page, Garcia welcomed Liverpool’s January edition by describing the Salzburg ace as a ‘special player’.
Creativity is very difficult to find on these days of data and analysis!! Takumi Minamino is one of those special players that can provide something different. All the best. #ExpecttheUnexpected #OnceaRedAlwaysaRed https://t.co/0DfdgFCL7r
— Luis Garcia (@luchogarcia14) December 19, 2019
What RTK has to say
Making the gargantuan leap from the Austrian league to the Champions League elite, Minamino has taken to European football like a duck to water.
Arguably Liverpool’s most exciting signing since Alisson Becker in 2018, Minamino will help fill the creative void left by Philippe Coutinho who departed Liverpool for Barcelona back in 2018.
Liverpool’s new No.18 outranks any of the Reds’ current midfield stock in terms of goals. Oxlade-Chamberlain is the club’s highest-scoring midfielder with four goals this season whilst Minamino already has seven more than the England international.
Minamino’s exciting performances against Klopp’s European kings will allow Liverpool supporters to give the Japanese born-midfielder time to adapt having already seen encouraging glimpses of his undeniable talent.