Liverpool make decision on midfielder’s future

Liverpool continue their pre-season schedule with a game against Premier League rivals Arsenal on Thursday morning. 

Arne Slot’s side ran out 1-0 winners over La Liga side Real Betis in their first friendly of the summer on Saturday, with Dominik Szoboszlai’s goal enough to secure the victory.

The Dutchman will hope to see his side impress when they face the Gunners, with friendlies against Manchester United and Sevilla to follow before their Premier League season opener against Ipswich Town next month.

In the meantime, the Merseyside outfit appear to have made a decision on the future of one of their midfielders.

As per Football Insider, the Reds are very reluctant to allow Wataru Endo to leave the club during the current transfer window.

The Japan international joined Liverpool from German side Stuttgart last summer, and made 43 appearances during his first season at Anfield.

Endo looks set to stay at Liverpool beyond this summer despite being linked with a move elsewhere

The 31-year-old arrived as part of a significant overhaul of Liverpool’s midfield last term, with the likes of Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister also signed.

Fellow midfielder Thiago Alcantara has already departed Anfield this summer, following the expiry of his contract at the end of last term.

Those in charge of the club, including Slot, are therefore reluctant to further weaken their midfield options before the start of the new campaign, the report suggests.

It is claimed that the Premier League side have already rejected an offer – believed to be in the region of £12 million – from French side Marseille for the player.

Endo is contracted to Liverpool until the end of the 2026/27 season, and it appears that the club have no plans to sell the Japanese midfielder any time soon.