Leeds United have been given a major boost in their pursuit of Liverpool forward, Takumi Minamino...

What's the word?

As per journalist Fabrizio Romano, the Japan international "will leave" Anfield this summer after two-and-a-half years at the club, with the 27-year-old having been signed from Red Bull Salzburg back in January 2020.

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Writing on Twitter about the 42-cap gem's future, the transfer insider revealed that the player is attracting interest from potential suitors: "Takumi Minamino will leave Liverpool this summer, plan hasn’t changed. Three clubs have opened talks to explore potential permanent move - Minamino’s gonna decide soon.

"Price tag for Minamino deal will be around €17m."

While no clubs have been named by Romano, the one-time Cerezo Osaka man has been heavily linked with a move to Elland Road in recent times, having worked under manager Jesse Marsch during his stint in Austria.

Thus, with the news that he will certainly leave Anfield behind, they have been handed the green light to contact Liverpool and seal a swoop.

Another Aaronson

The American coach could well utilise that aforementioned connection to try and bring the £10.8m-rated speedster to Yorkshire this summer, having already worked his magic to bring two other former Salzburg men to the club in Rasmus Kristensen and Brenden Aaronson.

The move to prise Minamino from Jurgen Klopp's side would no doubt mirror that of the latter man, in particular, with the pair both progressive, forward-thinking attacking players who can cause havoc in the final third, with Marsch appearing to be keen to reshape a squad built by Marcelo Bielsa into his own image.

Under the 48-year-old's watch, the current Reds man previously scored nine goals and provided 11 assists in just 22 games for the Austrian outfit, with the hope being that he can replicate that former once again for the Whites.

It has proven a tricky spell on Merseyside for the £72k-per-week gem in recent times, having made just 21 starts in 55 games in all competitions for the club thus far, notably only making a solitary top-flight start in the 2021/22 season.

That being said, the "unbelievable" marksman - as he has been dubbed by teammate Joe Gomez - still managed to score three goals from his 11 league outings, having also plundered seven goals from his nine domestic cup appearances, proving that when handed the chance he can make an impact in English football.

The Leeds boss also clearly knows how to get the best out of the versatile, 5 foot 9 ace, with there seemingly little wrong in the former RB Leipzig coach bringing in players that he is familiar with, even if such deals have been seen as underwhelming by some.

With doubts over the future of talisman Raphinha, the arrivals of the likes of Aaronson - and potentially Minamino - could help Marsch form a fresh and exciting attacking unit, and one that will be able to quickly adapt itself to his style of play.

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