Leeds United look set for further links to Takumi Minamino over the summer as Liverpool up their interest in Raphinha. The Reds are reportedly eyeing the Brazilian as a replacement for Sadio Mane, who is looking increasingly likely to move to German champions Bayern Munich.
And Jurgen Klopp is understood to be happy in using Minamino as leverage in a player-plus-cash deal. The Whites have set their stall out with a £60-70 million price tag on the winger and no discussion of instalments, but a deal including a long-time target could soften the club’s stance and provide a winning deal for all parties involved.
Despite struggling to break into the Reds first-team, 27-year-old Minamino has proven a valuable squad player for a team that were chasing a quadruple. But what kind of player is he? And would his arrival at Elland Road improve the club?
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Here’s all you need to know.
Who is Takumi Minamino?
The Japanese forward has been at Liverpool for two-and-a-half seasons after signing from RB Salzburg - where he played under Jesse Marsch - for £7.25 million in January 2020, during which he also spent the second half of the 2020/2021 campaign on loan at Southampton.
Prior to his Premier League move, the forward spent six seasons with Salzburg in the Austrian Bundesliga - he also has 39 caps for Japan.
What do the numbers say?
Despite only being on the fringes of the Liverpool team, Minamino’s goal return is promising. He scored 10 goals in 24 games for Klopp’s side in all competitions and his total for the Reds since arriving reads 14 goals and three assists in 55 games.
In 199 games as a consistent starter at Salzburg, The Japanese international hit 64 goals and racked up a further 25 assists - equal to a goal or an assist every 2.24 games, which is just slightly better than Raphinha’s average of 2.5 this season, albeit in an inferior league.
In a direct comparison with Raphinha this season, The Liverpool forward lacks the creative output of his potential predecessor. He completes fewer key passes (0.95 vs 2.01), passes into the penalty area (0.95 vs 1.48) and successful dribbles (2.86 vs 4.60) per 90 minutes of Premier League football - according to data from FBRef.com .
But despite this, Minamino has a much higher average expected goals per game, averaging 0.88 compared to Raphinha’s 0.35 - although this can be explained by the fact that the Reds man plays for a far superior team who created over one expected goal a game more than Leeds.
Interestingly for Marsch and his system, however, are Minamino’s pressing stats. He is well-versed in the Red Bull pressing ethos and it shows with an average of 10.5 successful pressures per 90, compared to Raphinha - who is no slouch - averaging 4.20.
Will he fit Marsch’s system?
The simple answer? Yes.
Minamino earned himself a move to the Premier League, and to one of the best teams in the world, on the back of his performances under Jesse Marsch. Deployed on the right of the wide-attacking line in the American coach’s 4-2-2-2 system, the forward could utilise his positional intelligence and devastating bursts of speed to break through tight gaps.
He has the awareness and technical ability to receive the ball in tight spaces, draw in defenders and then work the ball into the box, and he will also make late entries into the danger area to latch onto crosses.
Out of possession, he will be one of the most energetic pressers in the side as shown by his numbers. He spent time in Austria under Whites coach mastering the pressing system and perfecting the traps set.
And in a wider sense of the club, his humble attitude and relentless work rate will fit seamlessly into the current crop of players. It would be a shame to see Raphinha leave, but if Leeds can secure a large sum plus a player like Minamino, they will be well off for it.
