Liverpool are in the market for midfield reinforcements after the brutal dismissals of Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, both of whom have opted to join Liverpool
After losing Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, Liverpool turned their attention to Wataru Endo.
Jurgen Klopp is desperate for a new midfield arrival with Jordan Henderson and Fabinho both having moved to Saudi Arabia. Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai have arrived, but more reinforcements are needed.
Caicedo and Lavia were Liverpool’s top two targets, but despite bids being accepted for both, the players opted to join Chelsea. and Reports now claim that Liverpool Sporting director Jorg Schmadtke has approved a bid for Stuttgart star Endo.
At age 30, Endo is a left-field option for the Reds, having played just three seasons in one of the established big leagues. The Japan international spent time with Shonan Bellmare and Urawa Red Diamonds in the J League, winning the AFC Champions League with the latter in 2017.
He earned his move to European football the following year with Belgium’s Sint-Truiden, before joining Stuttgart on loan in 2019. He helped the German giants return to the Bundesliga, earning a permanent contract with process.
In three seasons in the German top flight, he scored 12 goals and registered 11 assists, including a strike in last season’s relegation play-off. Traditionally a deeper midfielder, Endo is also capable of being deployed as a centre-back.
In his first season in the Bundesliga, he led the league in tackles – putting up an incredible 476. Endo quickly became the club’s captain, a position he holds to this day. He has a year left on his remaining contract, but – unsurprisingly – is open to a move to Anfield and the Premier League.
“As a player and as a person, he is extremely valuable,” former Stuttgart director Sven Mislintat said in 2021. “He is one of these anchors, a center of our system. He also plays as a center back or as a defensive midfielder, it’s good to have him there and perform.”
The manager who gave him the armband, Pellegrino Matarazzo added: “It is important for me that our captain can take everything with him, that he embodies the values ​​we stand for and is an example to follow. I chose Wataru Endo because he’s also a human being. who leaves room for other players to take responsibility.”
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The push for Endo signals the influence Schmadtke holds at Liverpool, despite only signing a short-term deal. His contract expires next summer, although he has a break clause at the end of the window.
And he admits that the German market is where he will focus his attention, having already landed Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig. “Of course there are always attractive players in Germany. Then my experience in the market is needed,” he explained.
“Because of course I know a little about how the payment is made, how the other side continues to negotiate. The German market is my home market and for me it’s easier​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ .”
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