“Liverpool Midfielder Wataru Endo Sparks Transfer Frenzy with Latest Bid”
“Liverpool Midfielder Wataru Endo Sparks Transfer Frenzy with Latest Bid”
Liverpool have rejected a bid worth close to £12m from Marseille for Wataru Endo. The Japan captain signed for the Reds from Bundesliga club Stuttgart 11 months ago for around £16m and made 43 appearances in total in his maiden campaign on Merseyside.
The midfielder signed a four-year term in August but is now the subject of interest from Ligue 1 club Marseille, whose initial overtures have been rebuffed, it is understood. Liverpool are not looking to actively sell a player who has become an important part of the operation at Anfield given his expertise in the defensive midfield role.
The Reds are not blessed with many who can play that position at Anfield, with Jurgen Klopp utilising Alexis Mac Allister in the role at times last season, while Stefan Bajcetic is looking to kick-start his senior career after missing so much football with a long-term injury.
As a result, there is no appetite to offload Japan skipper Endo, and it remains to be seen if Marseille, who are now coached by former Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi, return for a player who turned 31 in February.
However, Endo has a number of other unnamed clubs who are tracking him, and Liverpool’s resolve may yet be tested again before the transfer deadline next month.
Endo, who started the 1-0 win over Real Betis on Friday in Pittsburgh, was part of the contingent who trained at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday in Philadelphia as Arne Slot put his squad through their paces ahead of the friendly meeting with Arsenal at the same venue on Wednesday evening, US time.
