Takumi Minamino has opened up on his lack of game time at Liverpool amid reports linking him with a move away from Anfield.
The Japan international did play an integral role in the club's two domestic cup triumphs as he scored important goals in the run to the finals of the FA Cup and Carabao Cup. However, he made just 22 appearances in all competitions and only 11 of those came in the Premier League.
It is understood the Reds are willing to let Minamino move on this summer if their £17m asking price is met - and the 27-year-old isn't short of suitors. The ECHO have reported that Monaco are currently frontrunners for his signature, while Lyon, Atalanta, Leeds United and Southampton are also said to be keen.
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Despite scoring 10 goals in all competitions last season, Minamino admitted while on international duty with Japan that he'd hoped to play more big games for Liverpool.
"As a player, I've never had a difficult time in a match so far," he's quoted saying in Japanese outlet SoccerDigest. "I think it was fulfilling to be able to fight to the end with the possibility of the title.
"But at the same time, it is meaningful for me to play an important match as a player and leave a result. I'm told that I got the result, but I don't think I did a big deal. I just did the obvious thing, and it was more disappointing.
"I can play a more important game and get the result. I want to be a player. ”
Minamino made the move to the Reds from RB Salzburg in January 2020 for a fee of £7.25m. He's not been able to establish himself as a starter given the quality of the competition ahead of him and he spent the second half of the 2020/21 season on loan at Southampton.
