Arne Slot makes Wataru Endo transfer stance clear after rejecting bids

Arne Slot has ruled out selling Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo ahead of next week's transfer deadline.

The Reds have kept their powder dry this summer after failing to land Real Sociedad maestro Martin Zubimendi and it remains to be seen if they will do any business before next Friday.

Slot, who succeeded Jurgen Klopp back in July, is believed to be keen on bolstering his midfield and there has also been speculation that Endo could move on just 12 months after joining the Reds.

The 31-year-old was the subject of failed bids from Marseille earlier this summer - but Slot has now stressed that the Japan international still has a big role to play after handing him his first minutes of the season in Sunday's 2-0 win over Brentford.

Speaking post-match, Slot said of Endo: “It is not always about the player himself, it’s also about the competition he faces. We have many good midfielders like we have many good players.

“We are really pleased with the way Wata is training for us but he has some good competition and I think you saw today a good performance from all three midfielders, so it is not always about him – it is also about the others.

“He will be important for us during the season because we need all of them; we all know how long a season can be over here and how many players you need – and he is one of them that we are going to need in the upcoming season.”

Endo joined Liverpool in a £16.2million deal from Stuttgart last summer and went on to make 43 appearances in all competitions over the course of the 2023/24 campaign.

Liverpool are still keen on signing a new No.6, though Slot was coy on the club's transfer plans prior to the weekend. He did, however, make it clear that there we no concerns over the lack of incomings when the question was put to him.

“No, because I trust the team. I inherited a really good team, a team of many young players as well and I think we all know, especially young players they can develop. We just try to work as hard as we can with them and trust them a lot. They proved last week they have earned this trust and I am hoping they can show the same on Sunday as well.”