Liverpool No.2 Lijnders' declaration suggests signing a forward is not priority

Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders has suggested the Reds will not be dipping into the transfer market to sign a forward in the near future.

Lijnders dropped the hint with his recent comments about Takumi Minamino, declaring the Japan international has a future at Anfield despite spending the last 18 months on the periphery.

Minamino, 26, has found minutes hard to come by since arriving from Red Bull Salzburg in January 2020, with Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota jostling for three attacking roles.

But Lijnders is adamant Minamino is a part of Jurgen Klopp's plans after a short-term loan at Southampton and a promising pre-season.

This make it is hard to see where another forward would fit in at Liverpool, despite calls for the club to sign one over the summer.

Takumi Minamino scored against Hertha Berlin in pre-season ( Image:

Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

"Taki had a really good pre-season and I think it was really important for him after going to Southampton, which was a good decision at that time," Lijnders told Liverpool's official website.

"He came back and had a complete, full pre-season with us training-wise. He made an impact in pre-season, we were really enthusiastic about him.

"Then he had a small issue, with the national team, but he's back now.

"He was not 100 per cent fit because he came back early, but now he is good to go and we are really happy that he's part of our team.

"Jurgen said, 'Wow, the amount of times Taki comes one-v-one against the goalkeeper.' I said, 'Yeah, it shows you don't need super, super speed to come one-v-one with the goalkeeper.' He is a very natural, intelligent mover.

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"That's what we need; we needed it already in the last games. He has this good timing to move in behind, good combination play when the players are close to him."

"He only can become better. That's what we like, that's why we brought him in at that time - because we saw the potential, not the end product."

Minamino has scored four goals in 31 appearances for Liverpool and will hope to make his first appearance of the season against Norwich City in the third round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night.

He has been an unused substitute in five games after scoring in friendlies with Hertha Berlin and Osasuna over the summer.

Minamino scored in the Community Shield against Arsenal and twice against Lincoln City in the Carabao Cup last season.

He also netted two goals in his first three appearances for Southampton while on loan at St Mary's for the second half of the campaign.