It appears to be a potential bargain for the attacking midfielder, with a £7.25 million release clause.

Minamino is seen as “the true star of Salzburg”, according to members of the Austrian club’s hierarchy.

And Jurgen Klopp will be familiar with Minamino, having seen him close up in the Champions League this season.

Get to know a bit more about 24-year-old below.

Ratings: RB Salzburg vs Liverpool Show all 22 1 /22 Ratings: RB Salzburg vs Liverpool Ratings: RB Salzburg vs Liverpool Cican Stankovic - 5 SALZBURG, AUSTRIA - DECEMBER 10: Mohamed Salah of Liverpool goes past Cican Stankovic of Red Bull Salzburg before he scores his team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League group E match between RB Salzburg and Liverpool FC at Red Bull Arena on December 10, 2019 in Salzburg, Austria. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) Michael Regan Getty Images Ratings: RB Salzburg vs Liverpool Rasmus Nissen - 7 Red Bull Salzburg's Rasmus Nissen (left) and Liverpool's Sadio Mane battle for the ball during the UEFA Champions League match at the Red Bull Arena, Salzburg. PA Photo. Picture date: Tuesday December 10, 2019. See PA story SOCCER Liverpool. Photo credit should read: John Walton/PA Wire John Walton PA Ratings: RB Salzburg vs Liverpool Jerome Onguene - 4 Soccer Football - Champions League - Group E - FC Salzburg v Liverpool - Red Bull Arena Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria - December 10, 2019 Liverpool's Sadio Mane in action with FC Salzburg's Jerome Onguene Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley JOHN SIBLEY Action Images via Reuters Ratings: RB Salzburg vs Liverpool Maximilian Wober - 6 Salzburg's Maximilian Wober, left, jumps for a header with Liverpool's Roberto Firmino during the group E Champions League soccer match between Salzburg and Liverpool, in Salzburg, Austria, Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Kerstin Joensson) Kerstin Joensson AP Ratings: RB Salzburg vs Liverpool Andreas Ulmer - 5 epa08060664 Andeas Ulmer of FC Salzburg (L) and Naby Keita of Liverpool FC (R) in action during the UEFA Champions League group E soccer match between FC Salzburg and Liverpool FC in Salzburg, Austria, 10 December 2019. EPA/LUKAS BARTH LUKAS BARTH EPA Ratings: RB Salzburg vs Liverpool Zlatko Junuzovic - 5 SALZBURG, AUSTRIA - DECEMBER 10: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) Sadio Mane of FC Liverpool and Zlatko Junuzovic of Rb Salzburg battle for the ball during the UEFA Champions League group E match between RB Salzburg and Liverpool FC at Red Bull Arena on December 10, 2019 in Salzburg, Austria. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images) TF-Images Getty Images Ratings: RB Salzburg vs Liverpool Enock Mwepu - 6 Salzburg's Enock Mwepu, left, fights for the ball with Liverpool's Sadio Mane during the group E Champions League soccer match between Salzburg and Liverpool, in Salzburg, Austria, Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Kerstin Joensson) Kerstin Joensson AP Ratings: RB Salzburg vs Liverpool Dominik Szoboszlai - 5 Salzburg's Hungarian midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai heads the ball during the UEFA Champions League Group E football match between RB Salzburg and Liverpool FC on December 10, 2019 in Salzburg, Austria. (Photo by JOE KLAMAR / AFP) (Photo by JOE KLAMAR/AFP via Getty Images) JOE KLAMAR AFP via Getty Images Ratings: RB Salzburg vs Liverpool Takumi Minamino - 6 Salzburg's Takumi Minamino, right, is tackled by Liverpool's Andrew Robertson during the group E Champions League soccer match between Salzburg and Liverpool, in Salzburg, Austria, Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Kerstin Joensson) Kerstin Joensson AP Ratings: RB Salzburg vs Liverpool Hee Chan Hwang - 7 SALZBURG, AUSTRIA - DECEMBER 10: Hee Chan Hwang of Salzburg during the Group E UEFA Champions League match between Red Bull Salzburg and Liverpool FC at Red Bull Arena on December 10, 2019 in Salzburg, Austria. (Photo by Michael Molzar/SEPA.Media /Getty Images) Michael Molzar Getty Images Ratings: RB Salzburg vs Liverpool Erling Braut Haland - 5 Salzburg's Norwegian forward Erling Braut Haland reacts during the UEFA Champions League Group E football match between RB Salzburg and Liverpool FC on December 10, 2019 in Salzburg, Austria. (Photo by BARBARA GINDL / APA / AFP) / Austria OUT (Photo by BARBARA GINDL/APA/AFP via Getty Images) BARBARA GINDL APA/AFP via Getty Images Ratings: RB Salzburg vs Liverpool Alisson - 8 SALZBURG, AUSTRIA - DECEMBER 10: Alisson Becker of Liverpool in action during the UEFA Champions League group E match between RB Salzburg and Liverpool FC at Red Bull Arena on December 10, 2019 in Salzburg, Austria. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) Michael Regan Getty Images Ratings: RB Salzburg vs Liverpool Andrew Robertson - 7 Liverpool's Scottish defender Andrew Robertson kicks the ball during the UEFA Champions League Group E football match between RB Salzburg and Liverpool FC on December 10, 2019 in Salzburg, Austria. (Photo by JOE KLAMAR / AFP) (Photo by JOE KLAMAR/AFP via Getty Images) JOE KLAMAR AFP via Getty Images Ratings: RB Salzburg vs Liverpool Virgil van Dijk - 7 SALZBURG, AUSTRIA - DECEMBER 10: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) Virgil Van Dijk of FC Liverpool gestures during the UEFA Champions League group E match between RB Salzburg and Liverpool FC at Red Bull Arena on December 10, 2019 in Salzburg, Austria. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images) TF-Images Getty Images Ratings: RB Salzburg vs Liverpool Dejan Lovren - 6 Salzburg's Erling Braut Haland, right, fights for the ball with Liverpool's Dejan Lovren during the group E Champions League soccer match between Salzburg and Liverpool, in Salzburg, Austria, Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Kerstin Joensson) Kerstin Joensson AP Ratings: RB Salzburg vs Liverpool Trent Alexander-Arnold - 7 SALZBURG, AUSTRIA - DECEMBER 10: Trent Alexander Arnold of Liverpool controls the ball during the UEFA Champions League Group E match between FC Red Bull Salzburg and Liverpool FC at Red Bull Arena on December 10, 2019 in Salzburg, Austria. (Photo by David Geieregger/SEPA.Media /Getty Images) David Geieregger Getty Images Ratings: RB Salzburg vs Liverpool Naby Keita - 8 SALZBURG, AUSTRIA - DECEMBER 10: Naby Keita of Liverpool celebrates after he scores his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League group E match between RB Salzburg and Liverpool FC at Red Bull Arena on December 10, 2019 in Salzburg, Austria. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) Michael Regan Getty Images Ratings: RB Salzburg vs Liverpool Jordan Henderson - 7 Soccer Football - Champions League - Group E - FC Salzburg v Liverpool - Red Bull Arena Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria - December 10, 2019 FC Salzburg's Takumi Minamino in action with Liverpool's Jordan Henderson Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley JOHN SIBLEY Action Images via Reuters Ratings: RB Salzburg vs Liverpool Georginio Wijnaldum - 6 epa08060467 Georginio Wijnaldum of Liverpool FC during the UEFA Champions League group E soccer match between FC Salzburg and Liverpool FC in Salzburg, Austria, 10 December 2019. EPA/LUKAS BARTH LUKAS BARTH EPA Ratings: RB Salzburg vs Liverpool Sadio Mane - 8 SALZBURG, AUSTRIA - DECEMBER 10: Sadio Mane of Liverpool runs with the ball during the UEFA Champions League Group E match between FC Red Bull Salzburg and Liverpool FC at Red Bull Arena on December 10, 2019 in Salzburg, Austria. (Photo by David Geieregger/SEPA.Media /Getty Images) David Geieregger Getty Images Ratings: RB Salzburg vs Liverpool Roberto Firmino - 6 Liverpool's Roberto Firmino reacts during the group E Champions League soccer match between Salzburg and Liverpool, in Salzburg, Austria, Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Kerstin Joensson) Kerstin Joensson AP Ratings: RB Salzburg vs Liverpool Mohamed Salah - 7 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah (left) scores his side's second goal of the game during the UEFA Champions League match at the Red Bull Arena, Salzburg. PA Photo. Picture date: Tuesday December 10, 2019. See PA story SOCCER Liverpool. Photo credit should read: John Walton/PA Wire John Walton PA

What style of player is Minamino?

Bursting with energy, Minamino swarmed the Reds throughout both group stage games this season. His infectious energy is fundamental to the way Salzburg play and how they almost upset both the Reds and Napoli to progress to the last 16.

Pestering the opposition’s holding midfielders to force turnovers, Minamino appears certain to be a neat fit in a Klopp side. Able to spark counter-attacks to release Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, his signing should allow Liverpool to stretch teams more.

A hunger to go beyond the striker bodes well too, given Roberto Firmino’s comfort at dropping deep, with Minamino regularly collecting a return ball in behind defences.

Under Marco Rose, Salzburg mostly played in a 4-4-2, but now with Jesse Marsch the side most often resembles 4-2-2-2, which has seen Minamino become more central to the side’s pattern of play. He is integral to moving the ball quickly from defence to attack, usually through the middle channel of the pitch in congested areas.

Liverpool are pushing to sign Minamino (Getty)

Will he start for the Reds?

Despite an obvious transition to come, there is no reason why Minamino could not fit right into the Liverpool line-up. His work rate could see Klopp accommodate him in the midfield three, though expect a slower transition given the emergence of Naby Keita this season and the option of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Remember, too, Minamino started out as a centre forward, meaning he could also swap in for any of the front three when Klopp looks to rotate his side.

Journey to Salzburg

Born in Osaka, Japan, Minamino started his career with Cerezo Osaka, initially as a centre forward, with a debut in 2012 as a 17-year-old. After a mid-season move to Salzburg in 2015 for £720,000, he settled quickly and has maintained steady production with double figures in goals in each of his four full seasons at the club.

Production

Minamino’s production has been highly consistent since moving to Salzburg, scoring 64 goals in 199 appearances, with 44 assists. His best total, in 2016/17 and 2018/19, was 14 goals in all competitions, but with eight already in the current campaign, a career-best total is within reach.

Liverpool can also expect a player willing to take aim whenever afforded the opportunity, after averaging 2.8 shots per game at goal in this season’s Champions League. Moreover he is completing 2.8 dribbles per match, placing him in the upper echelons of Europe’s most dangerous players with the ball at their feet. An exciting, versatile player who already has considerable experience with 284 club appearances and 22 international caps (and 11 goals) for Japan.

What Salzburg think of Minamino

Christoph Freund, sporting director of the Austrian champions, told The Independent: “He is an outstanding player with an outstanding personality.