Monaco agree with Liverpool for Minamino
Monaco have agreed an €18m deal for scout Takumi Minamino from Liverpool, as GOAL can confirm.
The Ligue 1 club have made their choice for the Japan international, and look set to edge out Leeds and Southampton.
Minamino, who scored 10 goals in 24 appearances for the Reds last season, must now finalize his personal terms and pass the medical before joining Stade Louis II.
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What is the agreement between Monaco and Liverpool for Minamino?
After a series of negotiations this week, it was agreed that Monaco would pay a fixed amount of €15m (£13m/$16m), with €3m (£2.5m/$16m) $3.1 million) additional performance-related.
That amount is a bit lower than Liverpool’s asking price but is seen at Anfield as a bargain, with Minamino costing around half that amount when he joined from Red Bull Salzburg in January 2020.
Why are Liverpool selling?
Minamino played a key role in the Reds’ two domestic cup wins last season, scoring the best goal in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup.
But he hasn’t appeared in either final, and has only started in the Premier League once this season, and only nine times in total.
And with the likes of Fabio Carvalho and Darwin Nunez already signing for the new season, it was clear the opportunities for the 27-year-old would be limited this year as well.
Southampton, who he was on loan with for four months in the 2020-21 season, spoke to him earlier this week, while Leeds, led by Jesse Marsch, his former manager at Salzburg, also inquired , but it was AS Monaco who made their choice and now seem able to acquire the player.
Who else is likely to be sold by Liverpool?
Sadio Mane will join Bayern Munich for 41 million euros (£32.5m/$43m) on Wednesday, while Divock Origi is set to join AC Milan on a free transfer.
As the GOAL report, Liverpool are awaiting offers from Fulham and Nottingham Forest for defender Neco Williams, while there is strong interest in centre-back Nat Phillips, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Bournemouth.
Young defender Conor Bradley has joined Bolton on a season-long loan, but Anfield sources have disturbed that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is now likely to stay with the club despite the final year of his contract, and despite the long-standing interest from Aston Villa, Newcastle and West Ham.
Liverpool plan to negotiate new contracts with Naby Keita and Joe Gomez, while Diogo Jota and Harvey Elliott are also in line for new deals. Mohamed Salah’s situation is still unresolved as both sides have not downgraded on a contract extension at this stage.