Wataru Endo Welcomes Competition For Liverpool's Holding Midfield Role
06/24/2024 10:00 PM
The Japanese midfielder just wants Liverpool to be as good as they can be, whether the club go out to get a new player or stick with the ones in the squad.
Liverpool underwent a major overhaul of their midfield last summer, bringing in a bevy of talents like Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Ryan Gravenberch who are just entering their prime. The Reds also made a concerted effort to find a long-term solution to the holding midfield role after the surprise departure of Fabinho, working to make a deals for Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia. Both of those players ended up at Chelsea on massive deals, however, and Liverpool rounded out their midfield with Wataru Endo.
The Japan international took a few games to find his feet, but he eventually settled in and played a prominent role for the Reds. While Endo ultimately impressed with his no-nonsense style of play and massive work rate, the 31 year old is not the long-term solution Liverpool are looking for. When asked by Abema Sports Time about reports of his club looking to recruit over him for Arne Slot's first season in charge, Endo had a fairly pragmatic view.
"I don't care about those reports, but I also think it would be better to get a No. 6 midfielder. I think there is a possibility that they are viewing Mac Allister as a No. 6, but at the moment there aren't many No. 6 players to begin with."
"I had the most opportunities to play, and so did Mac Allister. We also had Thiago Alcantara, but he had a lot of injuries and is set to leave the club at the end of this season. We also have Stefan [Bajcetic], but it's still unclear as to whether he will be able to contribute immediately.
"Considering my age [at 31], I think it might be OK for me to get the No. 6. But if it ultimately makes the team stronger then I'm all for it, because there will be competition and I just have to win my position again. So I'm not really worried about it, and in fact I think it might be OK if I win!"
Endo's attitude is certainly rooted in reality, and it is a refreshing take for a player in his position. Arne Slot will certainly want to take stock on the options he has in house, but with a packed schedule Endo will definitely still have a role to play in the upcoming season.
