Jurgen Klopp has quietly disclosed who Wataru Endo is replacing at Liverpool

Wataru Endo is set to be Liverpool’s third signing this summer and could play an important role in the squad

It is undeniable that this summer at Anfield has been marked by great upheavals.

After Roberto Firmino, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner and Naby Keita initially said goodbye on their own terms in late May, the same cannot be said for the purge in Saudi Arabia that led to Jordan’s shock Liverpool departure Henderson and Fabinho just a few weeks later.

As a result, Jurgen Klopp started the new Premier League season at Stamford Bridge with a side lacking Moises Caicedo or Romeo Lavia, and was instead forced to use summer signing Alexis Mac Allister in a deeper midfield role. .

But despite a brilliant start against the Londoners, the Reds were unable to keep their pressing high and soon found themselves at the mercy of Mauricio Pochettino’s side just after Axel Disasi equalized Luis’ Díaz opener.

However, now ahead of Anfield’s second leg this weekend against AFC Bournemouth, they have moved quickly to finalize a deal for VfB Stuttgart and Japanese midfielder Wataru Endo. ECHO understands the 30-year-old defensive midfielder will cost Liverpool around £16m, with the Bundesliga outfit allowing Endo to speak to Liverpool about a proposed move to Anfield.

After the botched chases of Caicedo and Lavia earlier this month, coupled with interim sporting director Jorg Schmadtke’s close ties to his home country, news of Endo’s arrival was initially met with understandable skepticism.

But a deeper look into the veteran midfielder’s background should familiarize KOptions with what exactly they will welcome at Anfield. It is clear that, after a summer full of surprises, Liverpool are looking for ways to replace the wealth of knowledge that was taken from them following the summer outings of Henderson, Milner and Fabinho.

Together they totaled more than 5,600 minutes of action in the Premier League last season. And while Henderson and Fabinho were two of Liverpool’s first-choice midfielders in their final season as Reds, Milner was limited to just seven Premier League starting positions. As the oldest statesman in the dressing room, the 37-year-old was taken off the bench 24 times last season, 17 of which came after the 70th minute.

Also in a menial and supportive role, Klopp was keen to offer Milner another year’s extension at the club in hopes of kick-starting his career at Anfield in his eighth season. But after the 37-year-old turned down an offer to sign for Brighton & Hove Albion in June, the Reds boss was quick to reveal his desire to fill the void left by his former number 7.

“The way we finished games, it was always James Milner coming in, that kind of thing, and he kind of finished the game for us super professionally,” Klopp said during last month’s pre-season tour of Singapore . “Eventually – in the last few weeks and months – he may have finished more games. We have players for this role, younger players, and that opens doors and that’s what we need. Yes, as a group we want to remedy that.”

And judging by Endo’s CV, Liverpool could have found their man.