Wataru Endo: Stuttgart’s ‘bright spot’ in a difficult season ahead of deal that ‘came out of nowhere’

It’s not too often in football that a deal comes out of nowhere and makes everyone sit up and take notice in surprise.

But that is exactly what happened this week with the surprising move that will see Japan international Wataru Endo make the move from Stuttgart to Premier League giants Liverpool.

The move comes after The Reds missed out on both Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia to rivals Chelsea, and with the club in desperate need of a holding midfielder.

So they have turned to Endo, who is 30 and has never played for a team competing at the summit of one of Europe’s top five leagues.

So in order to try and find out more about him we got in touch with our friend Tom Mueller from Eurosport Germany.

Firstly let’s start with the simple stuff, what kind of player is Endo and what will he bring to Liverpool?

“In the last four years Endo has been undoubtedly Stuttgart’s most trustworthy player,” explains Mueller.

“It is he who has been a bright spot even in a difficult season like the last one where Stuttgart were nearly relegated.

“That’s how he earned his position as captain in Stuttgart and later also as captain of the Japan national team.

“However, Endo’s play is rather unobtrusive and he didn’t seem like the guy who would attract one of the bigger clubs in Europe. And he is already 30 years old.”

Mueller went on to say that he did think that Endo could be a good fit alongside Liverpool’s more attack-minded midfielders, as he could provide a base for them to do things higher up the field.

He did caveat that by saying that nothing has been proven yet by Endo at the top level of the game, so it is very much wait and see when it comes to him trying to make it a club like Liverpool.

"I think him alongside (Alexis) Mac Allister, (Dominik) Szoboszlai and/or Thiago can work. But he needs to prove that he can reach another level at a top Premier League club that wants to compete for the title and get back into the Champions League.

“Of course that means the speed and the pressure that comes in a situation like that. He’s never been close to that before even in a high-pace league like the Bundesliga. So I’m curious to see how he adjusts.”

So what was the reaction in Germany? Clearly in England and across the world Liverpool fans were very surprised to see Endo linked with a move, was that the same in Germany?

Mueller said: “Definitely! The deal came out of nowhere. Stuttgart were pretty surprised as well, I don’t think they thought they were going to lose him.

“But they respected the player's demand to be given the chance to make the move since his services for the club in the last four years have been so exemplary.

“For Endo it’s the possibility and chance of his career. And of course everybody in Germany thought Liverpool will attract a bigger name.

“For example FC Bayern Munich are searching for a holding six as well at the moment, but Endo was never even in the discussion. So that shows that [sporting director] Jorg Schmadtke and Jurgen Klopp maybe see something in him, that Bayern/Dortmund and bigger clubs in Germany don’t.”

Everyone will watch with interest to see if Liverpool’s roll of the dice pays off.

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