When Liverpool triggered a £7.25m release clause to sign Takumi Minamino from Red Bull Salzburg he became their first ever Japanese player and they had acquired a diminutive forward who had taken the transition from the J League into European football very much in his stride. But competition for Premier League starts at Anfield was a lot tougher than the Austrian Bundesliga and by the time the January 2021 transfer window opened he was looking at a temporary move to gain more game time.

It was something of a surprise however when it was Southampton who acquired his services. It was thought Ralph Hasenhuttl was keen to strengthen his defence as the window entered its final day, but instead it was Minamino who was pictured holding the Saints shirt as the media team released the news of his signing, just before the deadline.

He went straight into the team that faced Newcastle at St James Park and scored a goal with a cool finish. He added another in his third game, v Chelsea, and there was some speculation that a permanent move could perhaps be negotiated. However the team in general was struggling and he began to have little impact in some games although he was always a willing runner. By the time the season finished his loan spell was considered to have been patchy at best, but there was little clamour to make enquiries about his further availability and he duly returned to Merseyside.