Eintracht Frankfurt have reportedly enquired about the availability of Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo amidst speculation that he will be allowed to leave in the summer.
Endo arrived at Anfield in the summer of 2024 following the club's failed pursuit of then Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo.
Though many fans were initially disappointed by the signing given he was seen as a last-minute alterative, he proved his doubters wrong and won over the fans thanks to his spirited performances.
The 32-year-old has been part of the Reds squad this season that looks certain to win the Premier League title, with his team 12 points ahead of second-placed Arsenal.
However, Endo has made just 14 appearances for the club this season in the league, and journalist Florian Plettenberg claims that Eintracht Frankfurt would be interested in securing his services, though he adds that the overall package for the midfielder is still currently too expensive.
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Can Liverpool afford to lose Endo?
Endo is a capable destroyer in midfield at his best and has often prevented opponents from escaping Liverpool's suffocating press, but there are concerns about his ability to continue to perform such a role considering his age.
Additionally, boss Arne Slot has expressed his preference to use midfielders who are comfortable receiving the ball under pressure from inside an opponent's block.
While the Japan international's play style makes him an odd fit under Slot, there is an argument that allowing him to leave would risk leaving the team's midfield dangerously short of numbers.
Ryan Gravenberch, Curtis Jones, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai have been the only midfielders that Slot has shown faith in, but the quartet have looked exhausted in recent weeks.
Liverpool may already need to make several additions given Trent Alexander-Arnold's rumoured exit to Real Madrid, Andrew Robertson's poor form and the inconsistencies of Luiz Diaz and Darwin Nunez, as well as the fact Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk are out of contract at the end of the season.
Letting Endo leave would make signing another midfielder a priority, but the Reds may not be able to acquire so many players in one window.
Lewis Nolan
