Liverpool midfielder not in manager Arne Slot’s plans

Liverpool have appointed Arne Slot as their new manager following the departure of Jurgen Klopp in the summer transfer window.

The club made changes at the top and in the squad this summer, with the new manager exercising his authority and making decisions based on his philosophy.

One of the players whose future at the club is uncertain is midfielder Wataru Endo, who does not feature in the Dutch manager’s plans.

The Reds were in the market for a new No.6 in the summer transfer window and were even prepared to sign Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, but the Spaniard decided to stay at his boyhood club.

According to Athletic reporter Andy Jones, there are signs that Endo will be offloaded soon as the manager has yet to field the midfielder this season.

In an interview with The Athletic’s Walk On podcast, Jones claimed that Endo is not part of Slot’s long-term plans at Anfield.

He said:

“I think we saw in pre-season that Slot hasn’t used him, and Liverpool have ultimately decided to recruit a number six as well, that he doesn’t seem to fit into Liverpool’s long-term plans.

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“I think this year, now that you have him, you shouldn’t use him as a starter so much, but rather the last 20 or 15 minutes of a game so that hopefully Liverpool are comfortable enough to bring him on and get things going.

“He can pass the ball, he can do the simple things, he’s just not really a progressive passer. That’s the problem.”

Wataru Endo impressed for Liverpool last season

It is a complete turnaround in the career of the midfielder, who was one of Liverpool’s most important players last season.

The midfielder was signed by Jürgen Klopp last summer and has played regularly in midfield for the Merseyside club.

Slot has come to the Reds with a different mentality and the type of football he expects from his defensive midfielder is at odds with what Endo can offer.

The Japanese midfielder impressed Klopp last season, with the former Liverpool manager calling him “exceptional”, according to GOAL.

The German manager praised the midfielder’s defensive talent last season, but he has no future at Anfield under Slot and a departure next year seems certain at the moment.