Rumour Mongering: Sevilla Want to Sign Takumi Minamino

When Liverpool sent 26-year-old Japan international Takumi Minamino to Southampton on loan, the club insisted he remained in their long-term plans—and reports they rejected Southampton’s attempts to include a purchase option backed up that idea.

If those plans change, though, they could have a serious suitor for Minamino in Spain. At least according to Deportivos Fichajes, who claim claiming sporting director Monchi is planning a major summer overhaul with the versatile Minamino is a top priority.

They claim the player is seen as the preferred replacement for Oussama Idrissi, a 24-year-old Dutch-Moroccan forward who was sent to Ajax on loan in January after being signed by Sevilla just last summer but failing to settle in his first six months in Spain.

However, suggestions a €10M fee would be Liverpool’s asking price seem hopeful, at least if one believes Fichajes are relaying accurate information from the Sevilla end—as Liverpool have previously been said to value Minamino at far more than that amount.

When the Reds triggered his £7M release clause in January of last year, it was suggested the club saw him as a player worth around three times that number, or around £21M. While his stock certainly hasn’t risen so far at Anfield, then, a €10M fee seems low.

And of course, whether or not Sevilla are genuinely interested, if Minamino does remain in Jürgen Klopp’s long-term plans it’s unlikely he’ll be joining to Sevilla in the summer even if they’re willing to pay a fee closer to the Reds’ previously reported valuation.