'Exceptional' Liverpool star Klopp tipped for long Anfield stay has 'struggled to adapt' under Slot

Liverpool’s plans for their midfield have been scuppered after talks collapsed between them and top target Martín Zubimendi. The Real Sociedad star had been a priority for the Reds, who have been looking at bringing in another No.6 following Arne Slot’s first pre-season.

However, despite reports that Zubimendi was headed for a new chapter following his triumph with Spain at Euro 2024, his boyhood club has managed to convince him to stay a bit longer in San Sebastián. Liverpool have since been exploring options in other areas of the squad, with reports on links to Georgian goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili now taking centre stage.

This doesn’t mean the midfield situation is solved, though. Slot’s first feel for his team has resulted in Wataru Endō falling out of favour at Anfield. During Liverpool’s pre-season run, the manager opted to deploy others ahead of the Japanese international on the majority of occasions, which is something Jamie Carragher has picked up on.

“I think he would play virtually everybody there instead of Endō actually. More of what we class as attacking midfielders in Curtis Jones, Gravenberch... but I don’t see him as No.6 if I’m being totally honest. I think he will put anyone in there before he puts Endō there, and I think that’s why he will probably move on,” the ex-Liverpool defender told the Blood Red podcast.

Football Insider has followed up with a new update, reporting that Endō has ‘slipped down the pecking order’ under the new manager. The 31-year-old has ‘struggled to adapt to Slot’s more possession-based style’, putting him behind other options in the battle to secure a spot in Liverpool’s starting XI.

If Liverpool do manage to bring in a new defensive midfielder this summer, they have opened themselves up to selling Endō for the right price. He joined the club just last year for £16.2 million, after the Reds were snubbed of primary targets Roméo Lavia and Moisés Caicedo.

Despite being out of favour under Slot, Endō’s debut season was strong and he certainly impressed Jurgen Klopp, who backed Japan’s captain to stay at the club for a long time.

“I’m pretty sure in three [or] four years Wataru will sign another long-term contract at Liverpool just because he might be 30 or 31 on his passport but he’s not,” Klopp said after the Reds’ Carabao Cup win over Chelsea. “He’s a machine. He is footballing-wise exceptional. His defensive brain is outstanding. He gives us a lot of freedom for a lot of things. Yeah, top development. Very helpful.”