Liverpool Unveil New Signing Wataru Endo
Wataru Endo has arrived at Anfield, confirmed as one of the shock deals of the summer, but Jurgen Klopp believes he can have a similar impact at Liverpool to ‘legend’ James Milner.
After missing out on big-money moves for Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, both to Chelsea, the Reds turned to an unlikely candidate to fill the boots of Fabinho, who has moved to Saudi Arabia.
Klopp Praises Endo’s Leadership Abilities
The 30-year-old captain of Japan has been snapped up for £16.2m from Stuttgart and although it might not be what the Liverpool fans had hoped for at the start of the transfer window, Klopp has talked up his new man.
‘He is a late bloomer in his career and he was definitely underestimated for a long time. It is clear he has improved every year since he was on the proper football screen,’ Klopp told a press conference on Friday.
‘There’s no chance that anybody could [think he is 30], when you see him, you think, “Is he allowed to drive a car?”. On the pitch, he turns into a real monster.
‘One of the biggest LFC legends of my time was James Milner, he arrived here when he was 29. I can tell you without James Milner, we wouldn’t have enjoyed success in recent years.
‘Wataru can have a similar impact. The last week was obviously a tricky one. But when you have a problem you can stick to the problem or find a solution, I’m more than happy to have the solution.’
Endo’s Versatility
Endo has earned a lot of respect for his performances in the Bundesliga, chiefly in holding midfield, but also capable of playing at centre-back.
His leadership abilities are illustrated by wearing the armband for Stuttgart and Japan, with Klopp praising his commitment to the cause.
‘I know how football fans are, they would prefer to bring in a player who is £110m. But wait: he has something that Liverpool supporters will love, definitely,’ said Klopp.
‘He is already used to red a little bit [at Stuttgart], so that’s good, and when he puts that shirt on he will throw everything on the pitch and the people will love that, I know that. We had this with James Milner a little bit. Obviously a slightly different profile but could you respect James Milner more for playing 15 minutes at the end and just closing a game down?
‘I am really happy these kind of stories are still possible in this crazy world of football. It just feels right.”
Endo’s World Cup Performances
Endo starred for Japan at the Qatar World Cup and has been tipped to make a big impact for Liverpool this season.
Klopp will be hoping that Endo can help Liverpool challenge for more silverware this season and his versatility will be key in helping them achieve their goals.
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