Liverpool outcast linked with a move to Serie A giants Inter Milan: Reports
Inter Milan are reportedly interested in signing Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo. The Reds will also be open to leaving the Japanese leave amidst scarce playing time this season.
Endo was a part of a major midfield overhaul at Anfield last summer. The likes of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson left and were replaced by the likes of Endo and Ryan Gravenberch. The Merseysiders signed the Japanese midfielder from VfB Stuttgart for a reported fee of €20 million.
Endo had a decent 2023-24 campaign, registering 44 appearances across competitions for Liverpool and contributing three goals and one assist. However, he has taken his position taken over by Gravenberch this season under Arne Slot. The 31-year-old has played just 85 minutes of football across four appearances, out of which 82 were in one EFL Cup match against West Ham United.
Hence, Endo appears set to leave Anfield next summer and has garnered attention from Inter Milan. The Italian giants are looking to strengthen their midfield and could add the Japan international's experience to the squad.
Wataru Endo on his future at Liverpool and Arne Slot's praise for the midfielder
In a recent interview with Japanese outlet Synchronous (via This Is Anfield), Wataru Endo spoke about his future at Liverpool. He said that he plans to stay at the club and that the manager is new and hence, seeing each player. He said:
“We have a new manager. I think he wants to see every player. It is too early to judge anything. A club like Liverpool needs the depth of the squad. It needs all the players to play in all these competitions and to win titles. I have no idea what people are saying about me, but my plan is staying here. I have been doing what I should do and getting myself in shape.”
The Reds beat Crystal Palace 1-0 at Selhurst Park in the Premier League in their last game before the international break. Endo came on in the 89th minute for Curtis Jones. After the match, Arne Slot praised the midfielder's professionalism, saying:
“I sometimes, at certain clubs or other teams, see then a player coming in a bit like ‘you only use me for five or seven minutes?’. But if you look at how Wata came in now, how good he was on the ball but also the second balls that he won, he had only in these seven minutes a very good impact. Wata, with only playing five minutes, he gives that performance – that says a lot about him as a person.”
Endo's contract with Liverpool expires in 2027 and as per Transfermarkt, his market value is €13 million.