Jurgen Klopp Reveals That Versatile Takumi Minamino Could Be Deployed in Midfield

Jurgen Klopp has lavished praise on new signing Takumi Minamino, stating that his versatility will be invaluable for Liverpool in their bid to win a first Premier League title - even suggesting that the player could be capable of playing in midfield.

Liverpool announced the signing of Minamino for a cut-down £7.25m fee earlier this week, having obviously been impressed with the 24-year-old's performances when the Reds took on Red Bull Salzburg in the Champions League earlier in the campaign. 

The forward has been in good form for the Austrian side all season, scoring nine goals and registering 11 assists in all competitions. The Reds reportedly ​beat a host of clubs to his signature, including ​Manchester United, ​Milan and Bundesliga leaders Borussia Monchengladbach. 

Minamino will officially become a Liverpool player on January 1 and could make his debut against ​Everton in the FA Cup four days later. Klopp is clearly delighted by the signing and the German stated that the flexible player is exactly what his squad needs in the second half of the season.

"It is a little bit not reshaping [the squad] but Taki is for sure a player who can help us immediately, in the short term, in the long term and from an age perspective," the former Borussia Dortmund boss told ​ESPN.

"He’s already really good as everyone could see when we played them in Salzburg but still there is potential there to become even better, which is good.

"You need always not only fresh legs because you play every three days, but you need fresh legs to keep everyone on their toes. That’s not a competition, it’s just to have different options in different moments.

"He’s a really exciting player and it was good we played them so each Liverpool supporter could see that’s a proper player.

"He is is a type of player we need. He can play all offensive positions which is good. Maybe can play as an eight as well. He is a sensationally good guy, he is smart he speaks really good German and will learn English quick and I’m really looking forward to it."

Klopp's side are currently away in Qatar competing in the Club World Cup. After narrowly defeating Monterrey in the semi final, the Reds take on Copa Libertadores winners Flamengo on Saturday.

Victory in the final would secure Klopp his third trophy as ​Liverpool boss, having already won the UEFA Super Cup and the Champions League earlier in the year. 

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