Liverpool have signed 30-year-old Stuttgart captain, Wataru Endo after the £16m surprise transfer came to light late in the night, yesterday.
The Japanese international has traveled to Merseyside to undergo a medical and sign his contract. He comes from the German club Stuttgart and comes as a captain who could be a significant signing for Klopp. The Reds agreed upon a transfer fee of €19m with Stuttgart for their captain.
As a matter of fact, the German boss has never won a league title without a Japanese in his squad. Kagawa in his Dortmund squad and Minamino in his Liverpool squad are prime examples. This stat could excite the Liverpool faithful for all good reasons as well.
Endo to start for Liverpool in the next game?
After a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge, the Reds went out to sign the Japanese international. Even though Klopp’s men started off well, they were quickly dominated by the Chelsea midfield.
Should that process run smoothly, then Endo will be registered in time to form part of the squad that faces Bournemouth at Anfield on Saturday.
PL rules state that his signing must be completed by 12pm on Friday in order for him to take part in this weekend’s game.
However, it is unlikely that he will be thrown in for a start against the Cherries. Jurgen Klopp is set to take a cautious approach to blooding his new midfielder.
That should leave Mac Allister to once again take on the holding role. It was a position in which he impressed during the opening-day draw with Chelsea.
Endo arrives with plenty of top-flight experience under his belt, having made almost 100 Bundesliga appearances for Stuttgart across the last three seasons.
He also boasts 50 caps for Japan and was appointed his country’s captain earlier this year.
The 30-year-old has previously made no secret of his desire to one day play in the Premier League.
“I still have the goal of England in my mind.
Above all, I would like to play in the Champions League, I’ll say that quite openly.”
He told Kicker in 2022
I’m a football enthusiast and an avid writer and someone who lives by the Bill Shankly quote, on a day to day basis.
