Analysis: Jurgen Klopp will expect more from his final transfer request of the summer after Liverpool’s acquisition of Wataru Endu.
Virgil van Dijk has arrived to offer some much-needed insurance in defensive midfield, even though it wasn’t the move any Liverpool supporters were anticipating to be revealed this week. Endo is not a household name among British supporters, and it is anticipated that he will play a squad role. This raises the question of who will start as Liverpool’s No. 6 player.
Jurgen Klopp has already suggested that Liverpool aren’t done in the transfer window for incomings and they’ve already shown their hand with their failed bid for Moises Caicedo. Liverpool shocked everyone when they came in with a £111million bid for the midfielder last week only to see their target join Chelsea
It’s the kind of money that Liverpool have tried not to spend in transfer windows in the past. Big money has been spent on Darwin Nunez, Dominik Szoboszlai, Virgil van Dijk and Alisson, but their bid for Caicedo blows those deals out of the water. It was the sort of money Liverpool would have needed to complete a deal for Jude Bellingham, although it was widely reported that his wages were the biggest problem for the Reds. Still, that money is clearly available to Klopp should the right target become available.
But if owners FSG are willing to authorize a record fee, that now calls Liverpool’s transfer strategy this summer into question. The sudden departures of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson have undoubtedly increased that cash, and Endo’s arrival merely scratches the surface.
Express
Liverpool will spend £16 million on the 30-year-old, leaving £95 million of the Caicedo price tag accessible. With so many midfielders still being connected to Liverpool, they should be able to fill their needs with that amount of cash.
