Liverpool transfers: Why €14m Marseille bid for Wataru Endo was turned down

Liverpool have turned down a €14 million offer from Roberto De Zerbi’s Marseille for midfielder Wataru Endo. 

The 31-year-old was signed for £16.2m from Stuttgart last summer and still has three years left on his current contract. 

The Reds are not actively looking to sell the Japan international and James Pearce of The Athletic has revealed the reasons why the club turned down the offer from the French Ligue 1 giants. 

The timing of the bid does not suit Liverpool at the current time, says Pearce’s report, while a lack of replacements in the market is also cited as a reason for rejecting the bid. 

Finally, the current needs of the squad mean that Arne Slot currently requires Endo to stick around. 

It is not yet known whether Marseille’s offer is a best-and-final or whether they will be back with another bid later in the window. 

Endo is also attracting interest from several clubs in the Bundesliga, according to Pearce. 

Endo earns Anfield respect

The No.6 made 43 appearances in all competitions for Jurgen Klopp’s side last season, settling into life at Anfield after a difficult start. 

He won acclaim from the club’s supporters for his attitude, winning the Carabao Cup against Chelsea at Wembley in February. 

Klopp opted to move for Endo as a last-minute transfer market decision last year after missing out on mega deals for Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, who both went to Chelsea. 

At times last season Endo appeared to be Liverpool’s only option in the defensive midfield position despite an overhaul in the centre of the pitch last summer. 

Liverpool's lack of No.6 options

Alexis Mac Allister also has the capability of playing there but is much better further forward. 

Curtis Jones, Stefan Bajcetic and Tyler Morton might well represent potential options for Slot in the midfield pivot positions for the season ahead should Endo end up leaving. 

Endo is currently in the United States preparing for the club’s second match on their US tour, against Arsenal on August 1. 

De Zerbi, once on the list of replacements for Klopp in the Liverpool dugout, is making waves already at the Stade Velodrome and has raided the Premier League for two signings already this summer. 

He has taken Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg on loan from Tottenham and also completed the permament signing of striker Mason Greenwood from Manchester United.