**Liverpool are preparing an exciting move to sign Kaishu Sano, who boosted his reputation with a fantastic campaign in the Bundesliga in 2025-26.**
According to claims originating from Japanese news outlet [_Nikkan Sports,_](https://www.nikkansports.com/soccer/worldcup2026/news/202606290000957.html) Liverpool are interested in signing the Mainz maestro, with the Reds set to make an offer for the Japan international.
Nikkan Sports claims that a “big offer may be coming” for a player that fits many of the needs Liverpool have at the moment.
Arne Slot’s struggles at Liverpool last season revealed a lot of issues within the overall profiling of the Liverpool first team. While there are a lot of technicians and talented players at Anfield, there is not enough physical domination in the team.
The likes of Gravenberch, Mac Allister and Szoboszlai are fantastic midfielders, but they don’t have enough bite and industry between them as a trio to dominate in the ever increasingly physically demanding Premier League.
Kaishu Sano would cost £40m+ this summer
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Described by Nikkan Sports as a “duel monster”, it’s no surprise then why Liverpool are interested.
Of Liverpool’s midfielders, only Szoboszlai played more minutes than Sano last season, with none of them making more ball recoveries than the Japanese star’s 202. He won more duels than any Liverpool midfielder, made 46 more interceptions than Mac Allister and also boasts a 61% aerial duel success rate.
To top it off, Sano also more than doubles every Liverpool midfielder’s aerial duel attempts, with a 61% aerial duel success rate. Despite being only 5 ft 8 – seven inches shorter than Gravenberch – he won 74 minus 47 more aerial duels last season.
The Iraola era demands fighting men in midfield
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Much like Jurgen Klopp, the success of Iraola’s tactical demands places heavy reliance on the industry and ball-winning power of the midfield, which means changes are needed.
With the Reds heading back to heavy metal football, Sano is an intriguing pick.
At £40m, he would be a good bargain buy to boost the squad’s depth and offer different solutions depending on the Premier League opposition of the week.
Given the inflated state of the 2026 midfield transfer market, Sano would be a clever buy to conserve funds and inject the squad with a little more bite.