Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has raved about the latest club signing Takumi Minamino’s work ethic and attitude as he welcomed the wonderful Japanese international as the Reds’ first mid-season signing.
Red Bull Salzburg’s attacking midfielder Minamino will link up with the Premier League leaders on January 1st after completing a medical and agreeing a long-term contract with the Merseyside giants on Monday.
The Champions League holders triggered his reported £7.25million release clause after observing the 24-year-old Japanese in their two Champions League encounters over the Austrian side in the Group stages.
The 52-year-old Klopp has admitted that he expects the Japanese international Minamino to slot in comfortably into the high-intensity playing style that delivered Liverpool success ever since Klopp took charge of the club back in 2015.
While speaking to reporters after Minamino’s signing was confirmed, the German head coach expressed his delight and stated, “This is fabulous news – a wonderful signing. We are really, really happy about this, Our supporters have had the chance to see him close up recently, so I don’t need to sing too loudly about his qualities as they are already known.
Klopp then opened up on Takumi’s qualities as a player and why he was impressed with the Japanese attacker in the Champions League, “Takumi is a very quick, very clever player, he finds space between the lines. He is brave with the ball but also brave without the ball – a proper team player. He makes the best of himself for the benefit of others. His Champions League experience is a big bonus and coming from the club and organization he does, we know he’ll be well-coached, used to an elite environment and had all the right experiences.”
Minamino joined Red Bull Salzburg from Cerezo Osaka back in January 2015 and netted 64 goals in 199 appearances for the Austrian club, adding 44 assists as well.
