Following the first significant Liverpool transfer decision, Arne Slot displays his real colours

Liverpool, who hopes to hang onto the defensive midfield player this summer, has turned down a bid for Wataru Endo from Marseille that was estimated to be worth £12 million.

There were questions raised when Liverpool paid £18 million to buy Wataru Endo from Stuttgart last summer because the 30-year-old player had no prior Premier League experience. After Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister, it felt like a huge letdown that Endo was joining them as their third midfield addition, especially in light of links to players like Aurelien Tchouameni and Joao Palhinha.

Endo has certainly got the talent at his disposal from his three years as a star in the Bundesliga, but it remained to be seen if he could translate that into English football. But it’s reasonable to say that throughout his debut season at Anfield, the Japan international succeeded beyond most people’s expectations. He made 43 appearances across all competitions and established himself as an important player for Liverpool.

In reality, having been used for the entire 120 minutes, Endo was crucial to Liverpool’s victory over Chelsea in extra time at Wembley to win the Carabao Cup. Endo spent most of his first season playing as the deepest-lying midfielder, often making an impression with two more forward players front of him. Under Jurgen Klopp, he started the last four games and received a lot of praise from the German manager.

In spite of this, Endo’s future has been a major talking point lately. This is due to the Sunday reports that the Reds turned down a deal for Endo from Marseille that was estimated to be worth £12 million. With three years remaining on his deal, the midfielder is committed to the Reds, and Liverpool does not want to let go of a player who has grown to be a vital member of the team due to his skill in the defensive midfield position.

The Reds lack a lot of players who can fill that position; last season, Klopp occasionally used Mac Allister in that capacity. Meanwhile, Stefan Bajcetic is hoping to make a big comeback to his senior career after missing a lot of games due to a long-term injury. Because of this, there is no desire to let go of Endo, and it is unclear if Marseille—who are currently managed by former Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi—will make a move for a player who turned 31 in February.

The Reds should retain Endo at the team this summer after taking it into account along with a lot of other things. Arne Slot, the new manager, may find it essential to have an excellent ball-winning defensive midfielder, and Endo certainly fits the bill with his arsenal of skills. It also seems that the new manager is well aware of what the Japan international can bring.

Endo is probably going to be included in Liverpool’s starting lineup for their Premier League opener against Ipswich next month, as they haven’t made any major summer additions. On Friday, he started the 1-0 preseason victory over Real Betis but was substituted at the half.

Curtis Jones and Endo were paired as the double pivot, with Szoboszlai in front of them. The formation Slot will employ at Anfield is yet unknown, but it looks to be either a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3. Endo has the ability to be a significant player under Slot and can have an impact in any of those systems.

Endo should continue to be a valuable member of the team even if Liverpool decides to add another defensive midfielder during the summer window. This is especially true as the Reds get ready to play in the Champions League once more. Slot’s desire to hang onto Endo demonstrates his understanding of the value of having a strong defensive midfielder like Endo, even though the Reds anticipate greater interest in the midfielder.