MINAMINO ON ASTON VILLA RADAR

Liverpool attacking midfielder Takumi Minamino could be an option for Aston Villa after they missed out on Arsenal youngster Emile Smith-Rowe who has signed a new deal at the Emirates Stadium. This is according to the publication from the stables of The Boot Room.

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Japan national team star Minamino signed for Liverpool from Austrian champions Red Bull Salzburg at the start of last year but he has not been able to cement a place in the star-studded Liverpool forward line. The Japan international has found it hard to displace one of the front trio of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino at Liverpool. In addition, the Japan player still has to contend with Portuguese international Diogo Jota who signed for the Reds from fellow Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers during last summer’s transfer window.

Minamino was sent to Southampton on loan from Liverpool for the second half of the season after playing minutes were hard to come by in the Liverpool team. He impressed the coaching staff at Southampton with manager Ralph Hassenhuttl publicly saying that the club won’t mind turning the loan spell into a permanent one for the Japanese international.

Aston Villa are in the market for an attacking midfielder in the mould of Japan international Minamino after missing out on Smith-Rowe who recently signed a new five-year deal at Arsenal. Villa had two separate bids of £25m and £30m rejected by the Gunners who have always insisted that the 21-year-old is not for sale. A move for Minamino could soften the blow for Villa who are expected to lose the services of skipper Jack Grealish to Manchester City this summer. Grealish is the subject of an £100m bid from the Premier League champions.

Villa have been active in the current transfer market with the signings of Argentine player Emiliano Buendia and England international Ashley Young, while they have also reached an agreement with German Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen for the signing of Jamaican winger Leon Bailey.