Why Wataru Endo could miss month of season after Liverpool transfer
Why Wataru Endo could miss month of season after Liverpool transfer
Wataru Endo is officially a Liverpool player after the club announced his arrival from Stuttgart.
The 30-year-old joins on a long-term deal from the Bundesliga club and is expected to slot into Jurgen Klopp‘s squad ahead of next weekend’s trip to face Newcastle United at St. James’ Park. It remains to be seen if clearance will come in time for Bournemouth today.
Liverpool‘s manager was full of praise for his new recruit, highlighting his experience with four years in the Bundesliga plus Endo’s role as captain of his former club and also captain of the Japan National Team as significant factors in the rapid turnaround of getting the deal over the line.
Of course leadership is a key trait the Reds partly lost following the departures of Jordan Henderson and James Milner earlier in the summer. There is a five-man group of standard-setters within the squad, rejigged to make Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold captain and vice-captain last month, but Endo will add another asset to the dressing room.
But there is one issue brewing for further down the line this season.
Japan are on course to feature in the next edition of the AFC Asian Cup – their continent’s quadrennial tournament – and are expected to go deep into the competition in search of a first title since 2011.