Liverpool Finalizing Wataru Endo Transfer In Bid To Solve Midfield Problem

Liverpool has gone some way to solving its defensive midfield problem with the signing of Wataru Endo from VfB Stuttgart.

The Japan international arrives after Liverpool saw recent midfield transfer targets Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia both opt to join Chelsea.

According to the Guardian, Endo has already agreed personal terms and a medical is booked in Liverpool today, with the transfer fee coming in at €18 million ($19.6 million).

At 30 years old, Endo is a different age profile to the other players Liverpool has been looking at so far in this transfer window, but his experience, and time as captain of both Japan and Stuttgart, should see him ready to take responsibility from the off.

“As a player and as a person he’s simply incredibly valuable,” Stuttgart Sporting director Sven Mislintat said of Endo in 2021.

“He’s one of these anchors. A focal point in our system. Whether he plays as a center-back or as a defensive midfielder, it’s good that he’s there and performs.”

Liverpool need a midfielder who prioritises the defensive side of the game, and Endo fits the bill.

The references from former managers and sporting directors paint a picture of a player who is a leader by example and a tireless worker on the pitch. He is exactly the type of character Liverpool looks for when adding a new recruit.

A battling ball winner, he also boasts good stats for wining headers, clearances, and even winning fouls, as shown below from FBref.

Moving from a club that narrowly escaped relegation in the Bundesliga last season to one that is expected to challenge at the top of the table in the Premier League will present different challenges, and may see some other strengths come to the fore.

At Liverpool, Endo will be looking to disrupt the opposition before they can get started, pressing high as well as reacting to opposition counter-attacks.

His aerial ability and his time playing as a center-back will come in handy, too.

The departure of Fabinho left Liverpool a little short at the back when defending.

Fabinho was decent in the air, perhaps not as dominant as you might expect for a player standing at 6 foot 2, but he was strong enough in this area to be trusted to play in the center of defence on occasions.

Without his presence in these scenarios, Liverpool have relied on taller forwards such as Darwin Núñez and Cody Gakpo being in the side to help out when defending set pieces.

This may be one of the reasons Gakpo has started the season in more of an attacking, central midfield role. They just need him in the team, especially if Núñez isn’t.

Diogo Jota was tasked with a central role at set-piece defending in the opener against Chelsea. He’s not the tallest, but is good at judging the path of a cross and has generally has a good leap and heading technique.

Endo is similar. Despite standing at less than 6 feet tall, he has a knack of winning aerial duels and is one of the best midfielders in the Bundesliga in this regard.

Endo wins a similar percentage of aerial duels (58%) as Fabinho (59%) according to FBref.

While the potential deals for Caicedo and Lavia were uncomfortably protracted and public, this is more like a classic Liverpool signing.

It was almost completed by the time anyone knew about it.

It is also more of the “moneyball” type signing with which Liverpool has become associated due to the baseball links of its owners Fenway Sports Group, who also own Boston Red Sox.

Moneyball, though it doesn’t transfer identically and entirely comfortably from baseball to football, is about finding good value in the market regardless if a player’s age, situation, and the perception of them.

A surprise signing such as Endo—even for a player in the latter stages of their career—is more of a moneyball signing than expensive acquisitions of Lavia or Caicedo would have been.

His age, experience, professionalism and playing style make him an ideal role model for youngster Stefan Bajcetic who broke into the team last season.

The club may see Endo as the type of player they want the 19-year-old Bajcetic to become.

Liverpool developing a player who is something of a mixture of Endo, and one of its other experienced midfielders, Thiago Alcântara, would certainly be handy.

Liverpool still needs reinforcements in this area of the field, but this signing is astute, good value, and will offer Klopp’s side something it currently doesn’t have.