Leeds United need to be ready to move after Jurgen Klopp hints at Takumi Minamino exit
Jesse Marsch won’t be paying too much attention to the upcoming summer transfer window with Leeds United still in a relegation battle in the Premier League.
But that doesn’t mean he can completely ignore what is slowly creeping up on him and one of Marcelo Bielsa’s January targets may well be available this summer if Marsch wants him too.
Liverpool’s Takumi Minamino was first of interest to the Whites during the winter transfer window [Daily Mail, 29 January] and Reds manager Jurgen Klopp has hinted that he could leave Anfield this summer.
“Taki is in an incredible moment,” the German coach said in an interview with Sky Sports.
“It is unlikely with the size of the squad that we now stay exactly like this together.
“For sure, some of the players do not play often enough for their own understanding and we will see what will come in the summer and find solutions for those situations.”
It’s all very encouraging sounds for Leeds United fans considering the Japanese playmaker’s attacking returns on his rare games for the Merseyside club.
He might only have two goals in the Premier League but he has bagged seven times in the domestic cup competitions which helped Liverpool to win the Carabao Cup last month.
That is in a team where he only gets the odd substitute appearance and even rarer starts because of the sheer quality Klopp has at his disposal.
If Minamino does come to Elland Road, he can be assured of regular starts and playing every game he is available for which should see his attacking returns sky-rocket if he’s in the same kind of form.
Leeds have to make sure they are ready and waiting on the Anfield door if the Japanese player is told he has no future at the club to drive him directly to LS11 before anyone else can get a sniff.
In other Leeds United news, Wolves have big injury concerns that might open the door for Marsch’s Whites to storm in and shock Molineux on Friday.