Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has admitted that he does not yet know where he will play Takumi Minamino in his system.
The Reds confirmed the signing of Minamino from Salzburg earlier this month, with the midfielder set to officially join the club at the start of January.
An attacking midfielder/winger by trade, Klopp says that he will need to think about where exactly he will fit in.
Speaking to Liverpool’s official site, Klopp said this:
Easy, easy. We will see. All the things we know about Takumi, so many things fit very well to us. His football skills first and foremost obviously, his decision-making in tight areas, his speed, his desire to win the ball back.
Counter-pressing, he’s used to that because Salzburg have a similar philosophy that we have. That’s all really good but then you have to see how he will adapt when he is finally coming over and we are allowed to work with him. How can we put him in, in the short-term?
Long-term, there is no doubt that he will help us, that’s clear. I’m looking forward to working with him, but between now and Takumi’s first real day at Melwood there’s still three games so I have a little bit of time to think about where he will fit in.
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It will be very interesting to see where Minamino slots in at Liverpool. He played best in the central areas against Liverpool in the Champions League, which suggests that Klopp should be trying to play him centrally, rather than forcing him in out wide.
He could be a good option to play in a midfield three as a rotation option, whilst also potentially being a player who could play in the false nine role to give Roberto Firmino a rest from time to time. There is no doubting that Klopp will find the best solution for him, though.
