Klopp "doesn't accept" Takumi Minamino theory after Liverpool transfer exit

Liverpool have confirmed the departure of Takumi Minamino to Monaco for a fee of around £15m, including additional payments.

The Japan international won a Premier League winners medal in his first season with the Reds, but found starts hard to come by, and has left with manager Jurgen Klopp 's best wishes. He scored 14 times in 54 appearances for Liverpool after joining from Red Bull Salzburg in January 2020.

And Klopp has strongly rejected the idea that the move didn't work out as he declared: "I don't accept that".

"I'm sure there will be those who think it didn't quite work out (at Liverpool). Those who think this are wrong. I don't accept that," the manager said. "An amazing professional; super, talented player. As a person, he is full of warmth and makes everyone feel positive. A manager's dream, to be honest.

"His contribution far outweighs the opportunities we were able to give, in terms of starting matches. He made us better each and every day he was with us - perfect attitude, winner's mentality. His achievements here will stand the test of time."

Minamino struggled for first-team opportunities in the Premier League but shone in the cup competitions. In fact, the 27-year-old was the Reds' top scorer in both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup - after netting seven in total. He also struck three times in 11 appearances in the league, and averaged a goal around every 100 minutes in all competitions last season - the best record out of any Liverpool player who hit double-figures.

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Having spent the second-half of the 2020/21 campaign on loan at Southampton, Minamino returned to Liverpool needing to prove a point to Klopp that he still had a part to play at the club. Although his chances were fairly limited in the Premier League, there is no doubt Minamino took his opportunity with both hands in the domestic cup competitions.

He scored twice in their 3-0 win over Norwich City in the Third Round of the Carabao Cup back in September and followed that up by netting against Preston North End in the last-16. Arguably Minamino's most important moment in a Reds shirt came in injury-time against Leicester City, where he struck a dramatic late equaliser to take the game to penalties.

Liverpool subsequently won the penalty shootout after the 3-3 draw in normal time and went on to win the Carabao Cup following their victory over Arsenal in the semi-final and win against Chelsea at Wembley. Minamino would feature in both legs of the success over the Gunners but was named as an unused substitute in the final.