Southampton: Saints secure last-minute transfer for Liverpool’s Minamino

Southampton have pulled off a last-minute deal on transfer deadline day to secure the signing of Liverpool forward Takumi Minamino on a loan deal until the end of the season.

Despite searching for a full-back for most of the day and reportedly being denied in bids to bring in three different targets on deadline day, Ralph Hasenhuttl has managed to strengthen midfield areas by bringing in the Japanese international.

Minamino signed for Liverpool back in January 2020 after he impressed playing against them for Red Bull Salzburg in the Champions League.

He has found game time hard to come by this season but his footballing past suggests he will fit in well with Saints.

Minamino has understanding of Hasenhuttl’s style

After breaking through in Japan with Cerezo Osaka, the 26-year-old joined Salzburg and went on to play a style of pressing football that is common in the Red Bull network of clubs.

He played under coaches Marco Rose and Jesse Marsch who are both advocates of a style similar to Ralph Hasenhuttl, and Hasenhuttl himself came through the Red Bull coaching school with RB Leipzig.

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His contributions from playing in a mix of attacking positions there were fantastic. 199 games yielded 64 goals and 44 assists and he will be an ideal option for one of Hasenhuttl’s “number 10” roles at Saints.

Despite an exciting attacking signing, there is no doubt that Saints have left themselves short in other areas of their squad.

Saints missed out on Ainsley Maitland-Niles after growing frustrated with the player’s representatives and then moved onto Spurs’ Japhet Tanganga.

Jose Mourinho was unwilling to let his player go and another Saints enquiry for Liverpool’s Neco Williams was also reportedly knocked back.

Yan Valery and Jake Vokins have both left to join Birmingham City and Sunderland respectively, meaning there is one senior option for left and right-back remaining for the rest of the season.

Long-term injuries to either Kyle Walker-Peters or Ryan Bertrand now could mean one of James Ward-Prowse, Ibrahima Diallo, Jack Stephens or Moussa Djenepo converting to full-back and leaving limited options elsewhere in the squad.

Shane Long has also joined Bournemouth on loan as their replacement for the outgoing Josh King. A swap deal between Saints and Bournemouth was rumoured earlier today but King has signed for Everton.