Liverpool line up shock move for Stuttgart captain

Liverpool have opened talks with Stuttgart over a deal for captain and defensive midfielder Wataru Endo, sources have confirmed to 90min.

The Reds, who have failed to seal deals for Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia in the last week as both opted to join Chelsea, have been working hard to look for midfield reinforcements.

Liverpool, who could bring in two extra midfielders on top of summer recruits Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, have money to splash following the sales Fabinho and Jordan Henderson to Saudi Arabia – they previously had a £111m bid for Caicedo accepted by Brighton.

Now, one of the options to full their void at the base of midfield has emerged in the shape of Stuttgart’s Endo. 90min understands the 30-year-old Japan international has been picked out by Liverpool’s new sporting director Jorg Schmadtke.

Liverpool have made a formal approach and Stuttgart are not in a position to turn down a realistic offer for Endo, just over £16m. Having been with the Bundesliga club since 2020, he has entered the final 12 months of his current contract and has so far refused new terms.

Endo, who was linked to Crystal Palace in January, revealed last season that his dream was to play in England and now a move to the Premier League beckons. He told Kicker: “I still have the goal of England in mind. Above all, I would like to play in the Champions League one day.”

Stuttgart are in for a busy end to the transfer window as they could be set to lose their two other biggest assets alongside Endo: Borna Sosa and Konstantinos Mavropanos.

The Bundesliga outfit are in need of financial assistance and are believed to be looking to raise up to €50m this summer and that scenario is now playing out. Sosa is in talks with Sevilla, whilst West Ham are understood to be close to a deal for former Arsenal defender Mavropanos. With Endo also potentially joining Liverpool, those three sales would cover the financial issues.