Takumi Minamino joins Southampton from Liverpool on loan | OneFootball

Though Southampton failed to bring in a defender on Deadline Day, they were able to secure some much-needed help up top.

Minutes after announcing Shane Long’s Bournemouth loan, the Saints revealed that they have brought in Liverpool’s Takumi Minamino for the rest of the season.

The Japan international was considered one of the biggest steals of last year’s January window after joining the Reds from RB Leipzig for a meagre €8.5m fee.

However, the 26-year-old has not enjoyed the start he’s desired, contributing just four goals and two assists in his 31 games (12 starts) in a Liverpool shirt, with half of those contributions coming against third-tier Lincoln City.

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhüttl 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.”

At the international level, Minamino has made 26 appearances for Japan, scoring 12 times, including in the 2019 Asian Cup final.