Liverpool do not plan on signing another defensive midfielder this summer, it has been revealed, following their underwhelming capture of Wataru Endo last week.
The Reds have been on the hunt for another “number six” since Fabinho departed for Al-Ittihad, but suffered the double blow of losing out on both Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo, with the young pair both joining Chelsea last week for a combined £170m despite Jurgen Klopp’s side seeing bids for both players accepted by their clubs.
Endo, who made his debut in the 3-1 win over Bournemouth on Saturday, is expected to fill that gap, and the Athletic report that ‘as things stand, Liverpool don’t intend to recruit another specialist No 6 this summer’, which will leave the 29-year-old and young talent Stefan Bajcetic fighting it out for a starting berth.
However, they are still expected to bring in a midfielder, with the report adding that Klopp’s side are on the hunt for ‘another multi-functional midfielder’. One that they have shown interest in all summer is Ryan Gravenberch, who has demanded more game time at Bayern Munich and could yet leave the club before the end of the transfer window, with both the Reds and Manchester United keeping tabs on the midfielder.
Liverpool would also like to sign a defender, and have been looking at left-sided centre-backs all summer. They have been credited with interest in both Mickey van de Ven and Levi Colwill, but the former signed for Tottenham and Colwill committed his long term future for Chelsea earlier in the transfer window.
The latest man linked with a switch to Anfield is Rennes defender Arthur Theate, though they will face competition from Fulham and the French side could be reluctant to sell both him and Jeremy Doku (who is being linked with a move to Manchester City) in the same transfer window.
