Who is Wataru Endo and why are Liverpool signing the Japan star?

 

Liverpool's high-profile failings in the transfer market has undoubtedly impacted their overall preparation to the season. The summer started so well for the Reds, too, as they quickly confirmed the captures of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai. The recruitment drive rapidly ground to a halt and even as Liverpool lost Jordan Henderson and Fabinho to Al-Ettifaq and Al-Ittihad, respectively, a lack of contigency has hindered the Reds. 

 

Losing out to Chelsea for both Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia was an embarrassment, and rather than publicly pursue players in the market, the Reds have remained quiet in their bid to land Wataru Endo from Bundesliga side VfB Stuttgart. Liverpool do have previous in bringing in new additions that catch many off guard. When they signed Fabinho in 2018, for example, it was a transfer that very much snuck under the radar. The move for Endo feels like a repeat. 

 

Endo may not have been one of the first names on the wishlist when Liverpool initially made moves to bolster their midfield. In fact, few on these shores would have been familiar with the Japanese midfielder prior to reports that a deal was close to completion on Wednesday evening. And yet, the 30-year-old is set for a switch to Anfield, a move few, if any, could have foreseen at the start of the week let alone earlier this summer. 

 

So why have Liverpool made the decision to sign Endo? To say he is a left-field central midfield option would be an understatement, however it has been reported that sporting director Jorg Schmadtke sanctioned the deal. The 59-year-old moved to Liverpool over the summer following a five-year stint with Wolfsburg, and having held similar roles with a number of German sides, will have been well versed in Endo's qualities. 

 

While he is best viewed as the deepest lying midfielder, Endo is a versatile performer having routinely dropped into centre-back in-game, particularly when VfB used a three-man backline. He ranks third for total tackles (208) during his three years in the Bundesliga and second for possession won in the midfield third (404) over the same period. Evidently, Endo is a handy ball winner in a key area of the pitch, a role that Liverpool need to strengthen following Fabinho's exit. 

 

Yet it is the aforementioned versatility to Endo's game that may have appealed to Schmadtke, and therefore Jurgen Klopp too. Against Chelsea on Sunday, Liverpool remained in a 4-3-3 shape for the opening quarter, before Trent Alexander-Arnold started moving into midfield. He wasn't constantly doing so for the remainder of the first half and all of the second, but he did push upfield on occasion. 

 

Were Klopp to continue with a box midfield as he did at the end of the 2022/23 season, which in itself maximised Alexander-Arnold's creativity, then he needs additional defensive cover. The 3-2-2-3 system leaves Liverpool exposed defensively, with Ibrahima Konate tasked with covering a gulf of space on the right side of the Reds backline. Given the Frenchman's rashness in the challenge, an additional body to ease the pressure on Konate will certainly help the team as a whole. 

 

 

This is where Endo will come in handy for Klopp. This willingness to drop into centre-back would allow Konate to move across toward right-back to provide cover for Alexander-Arnold, and ensure Liverpool are able to better retain their shape without the risk of being caught committing too many men forward. 

 

At the other end of the pitch, Endo is able to provide in the final third where needed. While he would be signed as a central midfield to help protect the defence, the Japanese star ended last season with five goals and four assists in the Bundesliga last season, including three goals from outside of the box; only three players - Daichi Kamada, Lars Stindl and Vincenzo Grifo (all 4) - scored more goals from distance than Endo, who has developed a statistically calculated WhoScored strength of 'long shots'.  

 

The issue perhaps wouldn't be the case of signing Endo, but rather if he is the only new arrival between now and the close of the transfer window. Liverpool have been linked with a number of central midfielders this summer, yet the lack of incomings is a worry. Endo will improve the Reds in the middle of the park, and his leadership skills will help fill the void that has emerged in the wake of Henderson's exit, yet given the raft of midfield departures over the summer, Liverpool still need to add bodies before the transfer window closes. 

 

Fans are hoping that Endo is the start of an influx of central midfielders as Liverpool seek to secure a Champions League return. He may not have been first choice among any supporters, but he could prove a solid pick up to bolster the Reds' midfield numbers and his impressive work off the ball will undoubtedly improve Liverpool when they are in possession and progressing up the pitch.

Who is Wataru Endo and why are Liverpool signing the Japan star?