Southampton have pulled off a major coup on Deadline Day by signing Liverpool winger Takumi Minamino on a loan deal until the end of the season.
Officials at St Mary’s opened negotiations with Liverpool on Monday morning and discussions continued throughout the day, with a deal agreed between the two clubs hours before the 11pm transfer deadline.
The 26-year old Japanese international underwent a medical on Monday evening and will now join his new Southampton team-mates at their team hotel in Manchester ahead of Tuesday’s game against Manchester United.
It is thought the player was not registered in time to make his debut at Old Trafford, but he will be at Ralph Hasenhuttl’s disposal for their Premier League clash at Newcastle on Saturday.
Minamino will become the second Japan international to represent the club, following in the footsteps of Maya Yoshida.
On his arrival, Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl said: “I am very pleased to welcome Takumi to our squad for the rest of this season.
“He will help provide another good attacking option, and is importantly the right profile of player for us.
“This will give us some additional depth in our squad at an important time, and I am looking forward to beginning work with him on the training pitch.”
The arrival also allowed Shane Long to depart the club for Bournemouth on loan for the remainder of the season. Bournemouth manager Jason Tindall said of the 34-year-old: “I am delighted to bring an attacker of Shane’s experience and quality to the club.
“As well as his undoubted technical ability, Shane’s character, maturity and leadership skills are something we have been searching for to add to what is a relatively young squad.
“He has played at the highest level for the majority of his career – including the past nine seasons – and we are hoping to bring the best out of him over the coming months as we aim to gain promotion back to the Premier League.”
3:11
FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Aston Villa’s win over Southampton in the Premier League
Minamino joined Liverpool in a £7.65m deal from RB Salzburg in December 2019, but has found playing time difficult to come by at Anfield and is likely to find more first-team minutes on the south coast.
He made nine appearances for Liverpool in the Premier League this season, scoring one goal against Crystal Palace in December, although he has taken part in only six minutes of league football since.
