Liverpool get green light in £51m deal for World Cup's best midfielder

Liverpool could be set to shake up their midfield options this summer.

Alexis Mac Allister has reportedly been a target for Real Madrid in recent months while Curtis Jones has slipped into the last 12 months of his deal.

If Andoni Iraola loses one - or both - of those midfielders then we can expect to see the outgoing Premier League champions delve into the transfer market for a new option.

Among the names mentioned as a potential incoming deal is Kaishu Sano.

Liverpool want Kaishu Sano

The 25-year-old is coming off the back of a brilliant FIFA World Cup with Japan - where he scored against Brazil in the round of 32.

Reports in Japan suggested last week that the Mainz midfielder was on Liverpool’s radar. And now the Mainz sporting director Niko Bungert has confirmed to BILD that the Bundesliga club are prepared to listen to offers for their star midfielder.

Mainz willing to listen to offers for Kaishu Sano

“It’s obvious that a player who has played two years in the Bundesliga and was outstanding at the World Cup, probably the best player in his position, is in demand,” he told BILD per Sport Witness.

“There’s no doubt there are interested parties. It’s well known that England is the league where outstanding players usually move.

“Our big advantage is that the player still has a long-term contract, so we’re under no pressure at all and won’t be rushing anything.

“If a club comes along with an offer, we’ll consider it. If, in our view, it’s not high enough for the player’s market value, then it’s also possible that Kaishū will stay with us longer.

"As of today, everything is still open. But we know, of course, that we have a player who is generating a lot of interest.”

Mainz have got Sano contracted until 2028 and value the midfield powerhouse at €60m (£51.3m).

Kaishu Sano: Situation summary

Kaishu Sano is a 25‑year‑old Japan international defensive midfielder for Mainz, having joined from Kashima Antlers in 2024 on a four‑year deal running to 2028.

Around 1.75–1.76m, he plays as a holding midfielder and near ever‑present starter, trusted to handle the dirtiest work in front of the back line while Japan also lean on him at international level.

On the pitch, Sano is a high‑volume ball‑winner and screener who thrives on defensive duels, interceptions and second balls, then recycles possession with simple, secure passing.

He has started virtually every Bundesliga game since arriving, completing 30‑plus league matches per season, with 1 Bundesliga goal and a handful of assists that underline his primary function as a stabilising six rather than a creator.

Given his contract to 2028 and relatively modest initial fee, Mainz see him as a core asset entering his prime.

The logical transfer arc is a medium‑term move to a Champions League club in Germany or England willing to pay a premium for a plug‑and‑play ball‑winning midfielder, especially after his profile‑boosting performances at the 2026 World Cup.