Takumi Minamino has already issued a glowing review of Liverpool target Maghnes Akliouche

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Former Liverpool talent Takumi Minamino has spent the last several years working closely with Maghnes Akliouche.

The AS Monaco winger is being linked with the Reds again this week, with it thought he could cost somewhere in the region of £40m.

Liverpool fans are not sold on Akliouche, with many pointing out his lack of pace could be a problem on the wing.

However, Minamino has already predicted a bright future for the Frenchman and has previously been quick to highlight his character off the pitch.

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Takumi Minamino said Maghnes Akliouche was the best young player at AS Monaco

The Japanese star left Anfield for the Ligue 1 club in 2022 and has been competing alongside Akliouche for a few years now.

In an interview released back in 2024, Minamino was asked specifically about the now-Liverpool target, and admitted he noticed his quality straight away.

The 31-year-old said: “When I arrived at the club, I noticed him straight away; he was the best young player in the team.

“He has huge potential and he showed it last year against several teams. He is always humble, he is a good player but also a good person above all. I am sure he will have a good future so I am happy to be able to play with him.”

During his time with Monaco, Minamino has played a total of 75 games with Akliouche, in which they have combined for four goals.

Maghnes Akliouche Monaco stats compared to Mohamed Salah pre-Liverpool

The 24-year-old has found the back of the net on 23 occasions for Les Rouge et Blanc and provided 28 assists.

However, it is hard to see how he can now come to Liverpool and fill the boots of Mohamed Salah.

He provided seven goals and 11 assists in 43 matches last term, which is not bad but still nothing compared to the Egyptian’s historic numbers.

You could say that Salah never really cemented himself as a world-class player until he moved to Anfield, and the same may happen with Akliouche.

But it is worth pointing out that in his final season before joining Liverpool, the now-free agent scored 19 and assisted 14 in 41 matches for AS Roma.