Liverpool star lined up to REPLACE £45m Man City treble winner

Arne Slot's Reds have been flying in every competition they have played in so far, utilising the different players in the squad while doing so.

However, some players have been notably out of favour with the new Dutch boss, receiving little to no minutes so far in this campaign.

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Likewise, over at Manchester City, Kalvin Philips only played 319 minutes for his club last season, before he moved on loan to West Ham United.

The treble-winner subsequently moved on loan to Ipswich Town this season, to steer his career back on track and get regular minutes for the freshly promoted Premier League side.

However, with his move seeming to have failed already, Ipswich may be looking at a Liverpool player to fill his place.

Phillips out and Wataru Endo in?

In an exclusive for Football Insider last month, it was reported that Kalvin Phillips' loan move might be terminated because the 28-year-old was struggling to get back up to speed, lacking mobility and running power.

In addition, his head was reportedly still at Leeds United, with claims suggesting he would be looking at returning to Elland Road.

It's quite the plight considering he was signed by Manchester City for £45m (Sky Sports).

As such, the Tractor Boys would be missing a significant senior figure at the club to lead their efforts to avoid relegation and ensure their stay in the Premier League is for the long term.

And this week, it was reported by CaughtOffside that Wataru Endo might be on his way out, after falling out of favour with new Liverpool boss Arne Slot.

This has been predominantly down to the meteoric rise of Dutch midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, who has taken the No6 position and made it his own, but if minutes aren't shared around this season, then Endo could look elsewhere.

In the report this week, a range of clubs were cited as possible destinations for the Japanese international, including AC Milan, Celtic, Fulham, Wolverhampton and Ipswich Town - who might be looking for a replacement for Phillips.

As such, the 31-year-old is not short of options if his stay on Merseyside appears to be falling apart.

Endo's Liverpool career so far

Upon being brought to the club by former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp and former sporting director Jorge Schmadtke, Endo was not a player fans expected to see on Merseyside.

His move was for a relatively limited fee of £16.2m and the task of filling in Fabinho's shoes in the No6 role was certainly a daunting one.

Endo had been a steady senior player at Stuttgart in Germany and his reliable nature helped him produce a number of standout performances for the Reds, in a position where Liverpool needed help desperately.

Alongside Alexis Mac Allister, who also regularly filled in the role, Endo was a cult fan favourite, but his long-term appeal within the club was always going to be limited.

Upon Gravenberch's rise in the side this season, and Arne Slot's reliance on Mac Allister and Curtis Jones to fill in as defensive midfielder, through a hybrid model, Endo has hardly been seen on the pitch.

While the move to Liverpool and just to a Premier League club in general was a dream of his, the player is currently happy to compete for his place.

But should his involvement in the team remain as limited as it has been, he may look elsewhere when the season ends.

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