According to reports, Liverpool are planning to replace 2023 summer signing Wataru Endo this year as club chiefs only considered him a stop-gap .
s transfer priority last summer was to overhaul their midfield and £200m was spent to sign Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Endo.
Liverpool to replace Endo?
was brought in as a replacement for Fabinho, who departed for the Saudi Pro League.
The 31-year-old Japan international was not Liverpool s main target as he was signed as a cheaper alternative to Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia after the midfield pair opted to join Premier League rivals Chelsea.
Endo (£16m) was a much cheaper alternative to Caicedo (£115m) and Lavia (£58m), but he comfortably had a better debut season than Liverpool s two former targets managed at Chelsea.
He made 20 Premier League starts for Liverpool during his debut campaign and 44 appearances across all competitions, proving to be a useful addition.
Despite this, Liverpool are set to replace Endo this summer as their top priority is to sign a new defensive midfielder .
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The report adds: Chief among their plans for the summer transfer window, which opens on 14 June, is the signing of a new defensive midfield star.
But a well-placed source has told Football Insider that Endo was only seen as a stop-gap by club chiefs – and plans are now in place to sign a marquee new midfield star.
Goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher is another Liverpool player who could be on the move this summer amid
Football Insider have mentioned Scottish champions Celtic as a potential destination for Kelleher as they are plotting a move worth up to £10m for the 25-year-old.
The Republic of Ireland international is keen to become the number-one shot-stopper elsewhere after seeing his opportunities limited in recent years.
