Liverpool have five options to sign a destroyer for Slot after hinting at Wataru Endo sale

Arne Slot is yet to get his first signing over the line since taking over at Liverpool, but it appears a defensive midfielder could soon be through the door with Wataru Endo potentially up for sale. After it was reported the Japanese international had the subject of a failed £11.8million bid from Marseille several weeks ago, the club’s decision to leak the news has been perceived as a major hint they are waiting on further approaches.

Endo was a surprise £16m arrival at Anfield from Stuttgart last summer, which followed the club failing in its efforts to sign Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, both of whom ended up at Chelsea. The 31-year-old would go on to make 29 club appearances in all competitions last season, scoring once.

But his failure to nail down regular starting berth has left Slot linked with potential replacements. Express Sport looks at five players in contention to sign on the dotted line for Slot this summer.

Joshua Kimmich

If it’s experience and proven quality that Slot is after, then the Bayern Munich man could be the answer. And with a just a year left on his current deal in Germany, a sale would surely suit all parties before he’s eligible to leave on a free next summer.

At 29, and with 91 international caps to his name, Kimmich has long showcased an ability to play with aggression off the ball, and composure on it, qualities which would compliment Dominik Szoboszlai alongside him. And having been at Bayern since 2015, the Champions League winner would surely be tempted by a final chance to prove himself at an elite club abroad.

Joao Gomes

The notion that Slot needs to build for the future on Merseyside surely brings the Wolves man into the frame, given he’s just 23 and already proven in the fast-paced Premier League. And now established in the Brazil squad, he started every match for his country in this summer’s Copa America.

The tacking stats of Gomes in 2023/24 ranked him in the top one percent across Europe, suggesting he is the bite required for a Liverpool midfield and at times struggled to control games last season. The one snag could be he is contracted at Molineux until 2028, meaning the Midlands club will demand a high fee.

Adrien Rabiot

One player who would not command a monumental fee is Adrian Rabiot, who is now a free agent after leaving Juventus. The 29-year-old has proven pedigree as a box-to-box midfielder at the top level, having also spent a long stint at PSG and won 48 caps for his country.

His reputation off the field however, plagues his one on it. The 2018 World Cup winner has long been considered a difficult individual to work with, regularly falling out with managers over an apparent lack of professionalism. It’s a reputations that Liverpool may not want to embrace.

Ederson

No, no the Manchester City goalkeeper, although his long-range passing would be a welcome addition to any midfield. But Atalanta star Ederson is well known at Anfield after his displays in that Europa League quarter-final tie that ended Jurgen Klopp’s hopes of signing off with European glory.

The 25-year-old disrupted the Reds in both ties, and was pivotal in the Serie A side eventually landing the trophy. His game is limited going forward, but if Slot has the self-confidence to help the two-capped Brazilian develop, he could sign a quality player without breaking the bank.

Teun Koopmeiners

From one Atalanta midfielder who helped scupper Liverpool to another, but crucially, one Arne Slot may know well. Teun Koopmeiners was due to go Euro 2024 with Netherlands this summer before injury scuppered him, and that just work out well for Liverpool.

Having been in Italy for three years, the 26-year-old has slowly enhanced his reputation.Also renowned for his leadership qualities, may provide the voice and organisation the Reds have badly lacked since Jordan Henderson departed.