‘That’s really, really true’: Klopp makes admission about Liverpool’s £7m man after latest friendly

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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says that is is true that Takumi Minamino has enjoyed an excellent pre-season.

Catching the eye

Minamino went into pre-season with his future at Liverpool very uncertain.

However, the £7 million Japanese international (BBC Sport) has proven his quality in friendly matches and now looks set to stay.

Liverpool were in action again last night against Bologna, and Minamino helped them on their way to a 1-0 win by scoring the only goal of the game, which led Klopp to say: “Taki has played a good pre-season, that’s true – that’s really, really true.”

Those words will be music to the ears of Minamino, who has struggled to earn a place in Liverpool’s team.

Back-up option?

While he is unlikely to be a permanent starter, it seems that he will be kept around at Anfield rather than loaned out like he was towards the back end of last campaign.

Another Liverpool fringe player who caught the eye last night was Kostas Tsimikas.

Tsimikas has barely featured for Liverpool since joining last summer, but he was given the chance to show his quality yesterday.

And Klopp was impressed be what he saw from the Greek international. He said: “Kostas was really, really good today, I have to say. That’s true. It was just 45 minutes, that’s fine.”