Wataru Endō: An Analysis
Wataru Endō: The Missing Piece?
| Built for Klopp |
Wataru Endō has signed for Liverpool in a €19 million deal, signing a 4-year contract with the Reds. It is Liverpool’s third player signing of the window following the signings of Alexis MacAllister from Brighton and Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig. Importantly, they are all midfield signings and will presumably form the heart of Liverpool’s midfield for the near future.
Endō appears to be ready-made for Klopp’s high-energy system; he is extremely hard-working and is also exceptionally versatile in that he can play as a traditional number 8, number 6, or even as a centre-back. At 30 years old, it feels very similar to the transfer of James Milner to Liverpool; a hard-working all-rounder who offers multiple squad options for the manager moving forwards. It is likely that Endō will slot into the defensive-midfield role, releasing Alexis MacAllister higher-up the field.
Wataru Endō meets Jürgen Klopp.
| A Shrewd Bit of Business?|
At £16.2 Million, the signing of Endō appears to be a much healthier option for Liverpool’s budget compared with the £111 Million and £60 Million bids placed for Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia respectively.
LFC obviously have more space in the budget to potentially bring in one or two more players before the transfer window shuts on September 1. Another midfield option would be a wise choice, with Liverpool rumoured to be asking about the availability of Ryan Gravenberch as he continues to be a peripheral figure in Munich.
| Much Needed Leadership|
Endō may be somewhat of a late bloomer in terms of his footballing ability, but he has always been an extremely dedicated and hard-working professional; traits held in particularly high regard by his new manager. He is clearly a natural leader, being the captain of both his former club, VfB Stuttgart, and his national team, Japan.
Stuttgart’s previous sporting director, Sven Mislintat, clearly had strong opinions towards his previous player:
“As a player and as a person, he’s simply incredibly valuable… He’s one of these anchors, a focal point in our system. Whether he plays as a centre-back or as a defensive midfielder, it’s good that he’s there and performs.”