Klopp discloses early advice for new signing Takumi Minamino

Liverpool gaffer Jurgen Klopp has disclosed the simple piece of advice he offered to new signing Takumi Minamino on his first day as a Liverpool player.

The Japanese international trained for the first time with his new team on Tuesday after his £7.25million move from Red Bull Salzburg.

Minamino is expected to feature in the upcoming FA Cup clash against Everton on January 5.

When asked about the pair’s early conversations, Klopp revealed: “That’s what the little talk we had [was]: we really signed Takumi Minamino from Salzburg, the guy who played against us like crazy, who was like crazy. Just be that and everything will be fine.

“We can talk, we didn’t do it too much yesterday because it is important he settles. We signed the player he was at Salzburg so he doesn’t have to change in the moment, just be who you are and then we start working on that and I am looking forward to it.

Klopp further asked the club faithfuls to be patient with Minamino as he adapts to a new country, a new language and a new style of play.

He continued: “In this period of the season especially there will not be 15 weeks until we use him. Is he then the finished article in March? I don’t know.

“We start learning about each other from now on. He will have all the time he needs but how much time he needs I have no idea.

“It would be crazy if you wouldn’t do that. It would be nice if you could give him some time.

“We have a really good football team already and he is an offensive player. We have some of the best players in the world but we didn’t bring him in to accept like I am number five, six, seven or eight. He can play different positions.

“I think after the last press conference when I spoke about him, someone made a headline that [said] he is really good but I have no clue where I can play him.

“If you want to misunderstand me it is obviously always possible but what I wanted to say was [that] we have many options with him.

“I don’t know where he starts when he starts but I don’t have to know it in this moment. We can work on that. We want to use his natural skills.

“We will not start filling him now with information immediately, ‘ you have to do this and that’, we want him to be as natural as possible.

“It would be nice if you and all the other people would give him a bit of time.”

Klopp also opened up about Liverpool’s activity in the ongoing transfer window. He added: “I think every year we have the same situation when I get asked ‘would you sign a centre-half?’ Yes. Then in two weeks, ‘no’. It is always tricky.

“We will probably not be too busy in the transfer window, we will see but it is unlikely.”