‘He can’t be starting’… Jose Enrique says £17m Liverpool player shouldn’t be in the team now
Wataru Endo has actually proven to be quite a good signing for Liverpool.
The Japan international was a relative unknown when the Reds signed him for £17m this summer, but he’s now making a name for himself in the Premier League.
Endo has performed admirably for Liverpool, but, as you can imagine, he does still have his doubters.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Jose Enrique has been discussing Liverpool’s current situation, and he’s still of the opinion that the Reds need to sign a new number six, claiming that Endo can’t be a starter in the Premier League.
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26y/o set to be added to Liverpool’s squad in January; Reds keen to get him in at Anfield – report
Liverpool are set to add to their centre-back options in January, according to reports on Saturday.
Football Insider‘s Wayne Veysey claimed this morning that Nat Phillips is in line to be recalled from his loan at Celtic next month, when the deal was due to conclude upon its initial agreement in late August.
The Reds are unlikely to trigger their option to extend it until the end of the season, with the 26-year-old’s parent club keen to get him back at Anfield as they search for central defensive reinforcements following Joel Matip’s anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
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Even if Matip hadn’t ruptured his ACL and Liverpool were well stocked for centre-back options, it might still have been advisable for the Reds to recall Phillips in January, considering his fortunes in Glasgow.
The defender has made just eight appearances under ex-LFC boss Brendan Rodgers at Celtic and was omitted from the matchday squad for today’s Premiership clash against Hearts, so the loan move hasn’t granted him the regular game-time that he and his parent club would’ve been craving.
By getting him back to Merseyside, Jurgen Klopp will have a readily available option to bolster his ranks in the centre of defence, although the manager is still likely to be eager for someone in that position to be signed next month to instantly challenge for a starting place.
Phillips has deputised commendably in the past during Liverpool’s time of need, most notably during the second half of the 2020/21 season, but at 26 and with little sign of him ever establishing himself at Anfield, his return should be viewed as a solution rather than the solution.
The ideal scenario would be to recall him so that we have adequate depth at centre-back and, if a reported target such as Goncalo Inacio or Piero Hincapie is brought in, maybe then the Reds’ hierarchy could look at another (more carefully considered) loan spell for the ‘Bolton Baresi’.
Liverpool scouts watched £52m man score twice for his club on Thursday
Liverpool scouts were out and about to take in the Europa League action across the continent this week.
With Liverpool themselves playing in Belgium on Thursday, they reportedly deployed their talent-spotters to watch the other games.
Yesterday, reports emerged from Sweden crediting the Reds with a presence at Qarabag’s clash with Hacken. Liverpool were claimed to be watching 18-year-old Hacken winger Momodou Sonko.
And according to Portuguese outlet Record, Reds scouts were also in the stands to watch Sporting take on Sturm Graz.
The object of their attention is said to have been centre-back Goncalo Inacio. With Liverpool reportedly already gathering plenty of information on the 22-year-old, they are claimed to have been back in Lisbon for another look.
After Inacio scored twice following his introduction at half-time, the Reds delegates will have no doubt been happy with what they saw. However, Record claim that if they want to sign the Portugal international in January, Liverpool are going to have to pay his £52m release clause.
Liverpool keeping tabs on Goncalo
As the January window draws nearer, calls for Liverpool to bolster their defensive department will surely grow louder.
Having seen Joel Matip’s season prematurely ended, fans are nervous that the Reds don’t quite have enough.
You can understand where they’re coming from, too. There was already an expectation that they may bring someone in back in the summer. And although the surprise emergence of Jarell Quansah meant that that was no longer necessary, Matip’s injury has now re-balanced the numbers.
Four is perhaps enough to get Liverpool through until May. But given Ibrahima Konate’s chequered injury history, you wouldn’t bank on it.
With the Reds sitting top of the table, there’s a feeling that they need to kick on and plug a couple of holes in the squad in the New Year. Do that, and Liverpool have a real shot and going for glory.
In that scenario, Inacio would probably be many supporters’ choice as an additional centre-back.
Still only 22, the Sporting man has his best years firmly ahead of him. And given the potential he’s shown so far, those years could be especially bright.
Should he be signed, goals obviously aren’t what Inacio will be judged on. But burying two in-front of Liverpool’s recruitment team can have done his chances of an Anfield move no harm at all.
Liverpool scouts watched 18-year-old winger in the Europa League last night
Liverpool are interested in signing 18-year-old Hacken winger Momodou Sonko.
Sonko has been a breakout star this season. Having scored seven goals and laid on four assists in the now finished Swedish Allsvenskan, the teenager has also been impressing on the Europa League stage.
And according to Swedish outlet Expressen, that’s where Liverpool scouts have been keeping their eye on Sonko.
They claim that along with RB Leipzig and Barcelona, the Reds are now very keen on signing the youngster.
Having reportedly already deployed scouts to watch him in training recently, Liverpool talent-spotters are said to have been in the stands for Hacken’s clash with Qarabag last night.
For their part, Sonko’s club are claimed to be ready to do business over their star prospect. The Gothenburg-based side are reportedly expecting a record sale for the winger, with a transfer fee of around £8m mooted.
Liverpool scouting Sonko
This is an interesting link ahead of the January transfer window.
Given the kind of age Sonko is and the price Hacken are looking for, you could see it being an under-the-radar type move.
At this stage, it seems unlikely that Liverpool will add any player to their first XI in the winter market. Joao Palhinha has again been linked today, but we don’t think that’s really going anywhere.
A central defender could also be targeted, with rumours suggesting that the Reds could attempt to pry Piero Hincapie from Bayer Leverkusen.
But amid all of that, we actually think Jurgen Klopp is happy with his senior options.
A player like Sonko could be separate to that, though. Yes, the teenager has been a first-team option for Hacken this season and now has European experience.
But he doesn’t turn 19 until January. If he were to join Liverpool, or Leipzig, or Barcelona he’d have to be patient. Sonko would likely split his time between the U21s and the seniors if he joined.
Given that Liverpool are always on the lookout for smart – and cost effective – ways to add to their squad, we wouldn’t be surprised if their interest is genuine. If they were in Baku last night they’ll have got a good look at Sonko, who played 82 minutes of a 2-1 loss for his team. One to keep in mind for sure.
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