---
title: "Liverpool: Reds review Takumi Minamino loan with Southampton"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/liverpool-reds-review-takumi-minamino-loan-with-southampton/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "David Comerford"
section: "Liverpool Football Club"
published: "2021-05-01T19:10:33Z"
modified: "2021-05-01T19:10:33Z"
---

# Liverpool: Reds review Takumi Minamino loan with Southampton

**Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has revealed that the club held discussions with Liverpool this week over Takumi Minamino’s loan.**

Minamino was loaned to the Saints on the final day of the January transfer window.

According to The [Athletic](https://theathletic.com/2361725/2021/02/02/southampton-takumi-minamino-liverpool/), he ‘expressed a desire’ to make the move in his talks with Hasenhuttl amid his struggles for gametime at Anfield.

Having scored a first Premier League goal in the 7-0 rout of Crystal Palace at the end of December, Minamino only played [six top-flight minutes](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/takumi-minamino/leistungsdaten/spieler/165793) across the Reds’ next seven games.

### Minamino falls out of favour after early Southampton success

The Japanese international made a flying start at St Mary’s, scoring two goals in his first three appearances.

But he’s now been an unused substitute in [four of their last six matches](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/takumi-minamino/leistungsdaten/spieler/165793).

“We had communications \[with Liverpool\] this week,” Hasenhuttl told [Hampshire Live](https://www.hampshirelive.news/sport/football/football-news/southampton-liverpool-minamino-jurgen-klopp-5357895).

“We discussed his position, discussed his development, and they were absolutely not unhappy.”

\[freshpress-quiz id=”342654″\]

The Austrian later added: “I’m sure that he will get a lot more minutes to play until the end of the season and then we will look at what we do.”

There is reportedly [no option to buy](https://theathletic.com/2361725/2021/02/02/southampton-takumi-minamino-liverpool/) in the loan agreement.

### Transfer Tavern verdict

Whilst Hasenhuttl claims Liverpool aren’t unhappy with Minamino’s situation, the loan move couldn’t really be called a success at this point.

Their ambition was surely that he would play week-in, week-out and find form and confidence, but he’s failed to kick-on from that hugely promising start.

In fairness, he has joined a struggling side, with just three wins this calendar year, but as it stands, you wouldn’t expect particularly strong interest from Southampton in making the loan permanent.

If Liverpool are offered a healthy profit on their £7.2million investment from elsewhere, it’s hard to imagine them saying no.

**In other news, [fans are calling for another loanee to be retained](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/liverpool-fc-transfer-rumours/liverpool-fans-call-for-harry-wilson-to-stay-at-the-club-next-season/).**