Liverpool's move for Red Bull Salzburg's Takumi Minamino makes perfect sense.
The 24-year-old would not only represent fantastic value at £7.25million in January, but he also fits the profile of player Jurgen Klopp seeks.
He can play across the front three or slightly deeper in a more creative role, has an eye for goal and, crucially, the work-rate that underpins Klopp's Liverpool side.
The German rarely moves for new signings in the winter transfer window, with the exceptions of Marko Grujic and Virgil van Dijk, but clearly he's seen enough of Minamino first hand to instruct the club to pursue a deal.
Talks between the two clubs have been confirmed by Salzburg's sporting director Christophe Freund, who said: 'I can confirm that there are currently discussions with Liverpool. It is an honour that such clubs are interested in our players.'
The two Champions League group games between the two clubs left a real impression, not just on Klopp, but also his players, with senior stars speaking highly of Minamino to coaching staff.
At 24, the Japan international has matured in Austria and his output is on the rise. He's scored seven goals and provided eight assists in 20 games this season.
Minamino may not be the most powerful player in the world at just 5ft 7in and 67kg, but he isn't easily dispossessed, has pace to burn and his goal-scoring instincts have been evident from early in his career.
Born in Izumisano, his first club was Cerezo Osaka - the J-League side closest to where he lived.
It was immediately obvious that Cerezo had a real prospect on their hands and he scored eight goals as a 17-year-old during his first full season. Minamino followed that up with the same number the next year before moving to Salzburg at the age of 20.
With their state-of-the-art facilities and progressive coaching philosophy, it was the ideal home to cut his teeth in Europe.
After five Austrian Bundesliga titles and four domestic cups, it seems like a natural point for him to move to the next stage.
The forward scored 63 times in 192 games in that time but became better known around the continent with Salzburg's performances in the Europa League last season, when he scored a hat-trick against Rosenborg.
The caught the eye even more in this season's Champions League with high profile games against Liverpool and Napoli, in which he acquitted himself well.
Salzburg's attacking trio of Minamino, Erling Braut Haaland and Hee-Chan Hwang proved deadly and won Jesse Marsch's side plenty of admirers, even though they missed out on qualification to the knockout stages earlier this week.
He combined brilliantly with Haaland to set up him for his first Champions League goal on matchday one against Genk, and was heavily involved in the striker's second of the night as he went on to bag a hat-trick.
Manchester United are among the raft of clubs interested in Haaland and Wolves are sniffing around Hwang, but it is Minamino who caught Klopp's eye and the Reds believe his true value is in excess of £20m.
A host of Bundesliga clubs and United were also interested, but Liverpool are clear front-runners for the Japanese star.
They have a strong relationship with Salzburg and Klopp has been publicly effusive in his praise of their set-up. Sadio Mane and Naby Keita both developed at the club before joining Klopp's side by way of Southampton and Leipzig respectively, so the path to Anfield is becoming well trodden.
Minamino would perhaps not anticipate breaking into the first team immediately, with Roberto Firmino, Mane and Mo Salah all firmly established, but he'd be a high quality option off the bench.
Liverpool's commercial clout in the Far East would only be strengthened by the signing and spread the club's reach ever further into the Asian market, another reason why this move seems entirely logical.
Given his importance to Salzburg, it was surprising to hear sporting director Freund appear to tout his star man when he told The Independent: 'He is an outstanding player with an outstanding personality.
'The big clubs have been watching him and if I was them, I'd have no hesitation to sign him. Takumi is ready to make the next step in January.'
It seems Freund will have his wish and Liverpool are closing in on another impressive piece of business.
