'He can be a No.8' - Klopp hints at Minamino's new position ahead of Reds debut

Jurgen Klopp has suggested that he could turn Liverpool new boy Takumi Minamino into a central midfielder.

Japan international Minamino has typically been used as a winger or striker for Red Bull Salzburg - and has netted nine goals and recorded 10 assists for the Austrian Bundesliga outfit this season.

Klopp has a history of altering his players' positions at Liverpool - having turned Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain into a midfielder, James Milner into a full back and also focused Gini Wijnaldum further back.

And the German has suggested he could do similar for Minamino - who has arrived ahead of his January transfer in a £7.25million switch from Salzburg on a four-year contract.

"Takumi is a player who can help us immediately. In the short term and the long term from an age perspective," Klopp told ESPN.

"He is a very exciting player and it is really good that Liverpool played him so the supporters could see that he is a proper player.

"He is a player that we need and can play in all the offensive positions and can maybe play as an eight as well, we will have to see that.

"He is a sensationally good guy, smart. He speaks really good German so he will learn English quickly.

"I am really excited to have him and it is always good to have everyone on their toes."