Japanese international Takumi Minamino is expected to sign for Liverpool in January, and his absence from Red Bull Leipzig’s squad today is likely to get supporters talking.
He will arrive at Anfield for just £7.25m, and according to the well renowned Melissa Reddy in the Independent, the Reds have now ‘agreed a January transfer deal’.
Minamino’s release clause encouraged Michael Edwards and Jurgen Klopp to move for the Salzburg man, who wowed in two Champions League group fixtures against us this year.
MORE: What Minamino said about PL last year makes LFC move seem all the more obvious
Now his absence from the Austrian outfit’s latest fixture will raise eyebrows across Europe as it only adds substance to the reports flying left, right and centre.
Takumi Minamino not in Salzburg's squad for today's league game
— LFC Transfer Room (@LFCTransferRoom) December 14, 2019
Our starting XI to face @tsv_hartberg! #HTBRBS pic.twitter.com/RA1ICrZbFC
— FC Red Bull Salzburg EN (@FCRBS_en) December 14, 2019
Obviously, it’s likely you’ll notice Hwang Hee-chan and Erling Braut Håland are also missing, but the latter is nursing an injury. No explanation as to why Hwang is missing though.
The Austrian clubs will not play again after this week for two months, as part of their winter break period, and so Minamino could have played his last game for Salzburg already.
Hopefully we’ll be seeing the Japanese superstar at Anfield sooner rather than later!