Celtic and Fulham are among the clubs considering a bid to sign Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo.
The Japan international has struggled for minutes this season and has failed to start a Premier League game. A regular under Jurgen Klopp last season, he has lost his place to Ryan Gravenberch under new head coach Arne Slot.
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Several sides are now considering an approach to sign Endo, with transfer journalist Ekrem Konur reporting that Celtic and Fulham are among his suitors.
Celtic have a strong contingent of Japanese players with Kyōgo Furuhashi, Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate all teammates of Endo’s at international level. Endo captains the Asian nation. Fulham are also consdering Endo to bolster their defensive midfield stocks, following the sale of Joao Palhinha to Bayern Munich last summer.
AC Milan, Wolves and Ipswich have also shortlisted the midfielder as a potential option this month. Liverpool are believed to value Endo at between €12m and €15m.
Arne Slot praised the recent performances of the player this week, with Endo having deputised out of position at centre-back.
“I asked Harvey to come into the room before that game [against Tottenham] and he wants to play in that number 10 position. But because of injures I had to play him on the right,” he said at his pre-match press conference ahead of facing Nottingham Forest on Tuesday.
“I didn’t even invite Endo in [to the office] because I know he is a ‘wherever you play me I’ll do my best’ player. That might be normal for a lot of fans to hear but as someone has been around for a while it’s not.
“I know wherever he plays, he gives everything he has. He is a very important player in our team.”
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