Wataru Endo set to join Liverpool.

Liverpool have resorted to signing Japanese international Wataru Endo who plays as defensive midfielder for German Bundesliga side Stuttgart on a £19m fee.

Liverpool made this decision after losing out on the signing of Moises Caicedo. With the departures of Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and James Milner, Liverpool were have been keen on defensive and offensive midfielders who can fill the vacuum created by the aforementioned players.

Wataru is a defensive midfielder who has an immense talent when it comes holding the midfield. Endo arrives with plenty of top-flight experience under his belt, having made almost 100 Bundesliga appearances for Stuttgart across the last three seasons.

He also boasts 50 caps for Japan and was appointed his country’s captain earlier this year.

Jorg Schmadtke, the sporting director of Liverpool had a problem to solve after the departure of Fabinho. The two players Liverpool targeted to help them with the holding midfield role, they lost both players to Chelsea; Moises Caicedo from Brighton and Romeo Lavia from the ‘Saints’ Southampton.

Wataru joined Stuttgart on loan from Sint-Truiden on 13 August 2019 and after an impressive performance, Stuttgart signed him permanently in April, 2020.

On 25 February 2022, Endo scored Stuttgart’s only goal in a 1–2 loss to Hoffenheim. He scored again in the club’s 3–2 win over Borussia Monchengladbach  On 14 May 2022. The captain of the Japan national team and Stuttgart is an asset and the EPL awaits his prowess.