"I'm not really worried about it" – Liverpool star urges Arne Slot to sign new player to add competition for his role

Liverpool star Wataru Endo has urged new head coach Arne Slot to sign a holding midfielder ahead of the start of the 2024-25 campaign.

Endo, 31, joined the Merseyside outfit in a £16 million deal from VfB Stuttgart past August after his side failed to rope in Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia. He made 43 appearances across all competitions in the 2023-24 campaign, contributing two goals and an assist.

During a recent interview with Japanese outlet ABEMA Sports Time, Endo claimed that Liverpool could do with another defensive midfielder in their squad. He opined (h/t Mirror):

"I don't care about those reports, but I also think it would be better to get the number six midfielder. I think there is a possibility that they are viewing a number 10 player [Alexis] Mac Allister as a number six, but at the moment there aren't many number six players to begin with."

Shedding light on the Reds' current number six options, Endo added:

"I had the most opportunities to play, and so did Mac Allister. We also had Thiago Alcantara, but he had a lot of injuries and is set to leave the club at the end of this season. We also have [Stefan Bajcetic] but it's still unclear as to whether he will be able to contribute immediately."

Endo, who is the captain of Japan's men national team, concluded:

"Considering my age, I think it might be okay for me to get the number six. But if it ultimately makes the team stronger, then I'm all for it, because there will be competition and I just have to win my position again. So I'm not really worried about it, and in fact I think it might be okay if I win."

La Liga club and Bundesliga team earmark Liverpool midfielder as top summer target

According to The Times, Bundesliga club RB Leipzig and La Liga outfit Sevilla are interested in luring Tyler Morton away from Liverpool this summer. The midfielder is said to be keen to explore his options soon.

Morton, 21, relished a fine campaign on loan at Hull City in the 2023-24 term. The right-footed man helped them finish seventh in the EFL Championship standings, bagging three goals and providing five assists in 41 matches across competitions in the process.

A Liverpool academy product, the Englishman spent the 2022-23 season on loan at Championship side Blackburn Rovers. He contributed four assists in 46 overall outings, including 35 starts, for Blackburn.