Leeds United ‘crank up’ interest in Liverpool player, Bielsa ‘desperate’ to seal deal

Leeds United’s interest in a January loan move for Liverpool attacker Takumi Minamino is “hotting up”, according to a report from the Daily Mail.

Marcelo Bielsa’s men have been heavily linked with a move for RB Salzburg midfielder Brenden Aaronson this month, but look set to miss out on the USA international, with the Austrian outfit reluctant to sell.

And if that is the case, then it is understood that Leeds could step up their interest in a potential move for Minamino.

The 27-year-old has been limited to just 86 minutes of Premier League action this term, and the Whites are said to be keen on offering him greater first team opportunities with a loan move to Elland Road.

How likely are Liverpool to let Minamino go?

This isn’t the first time that Leeds have been linked with Minamino this month, but prior to this update it had looked as if Liverpool would probably hang on to the Japan international.

Since then, however, there have been a couple of factors that might swing things in the Whites’ favour.

For one, Liverpool are now being heavily touted to make a £50 million swoop for FC Porto attacker Luis Diaz.

That in itself could be enough to convince Jurgen Klopp to allow Minamino’s exit, but the fact that Leeds are also said to be “desperate” to bring in a player of the 27-year-old’s ilk - with their interest set to “crank up” in the coming days - may also be a factor that makes this a doable deal.

Who is leading the race for Minamino?

At the time of writing, Leeds are favourites to land the Japanese international.

As per SkyBet, the Whites are priced at just 2/1 to snap him up, with Monaco and Wolves both at odds of 7/1.

Southampton, who took Minamino on loan last season, are priced at 8/1.