Liverpool's stance on more 'number six' transfers this summer

Liverpool are not in the market for any more pure defensive midfielders in this transfer window, at least according to one report.

After high profile moves for Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo fell apart publicly, the Reds turned to 30-year-old Wataru Endo to help sort the Reds' serious lack of midfield steel.

While Jurgen Klopp told the player himself "we really need you", the assumption was that Endo was to be a squad depth option with another bigger, more expensive signing in the 'number six' role still to come. Names likes Crystal Palace's Cheick Doucoure, Fluminense's Andre Trindade and Fiortentina's Sofyan Amrabat have been mentioned.

However, James Pearce of the Athletic writes that Liverpool "don’t intend to recruit another specialist number six this summer" and instead £16m Endo has been bought to start matches rather than be a squad filler.

Pearce adds that the soon-to-be fit again Stefan Bajcetic is seen as another alternative for the position.

Alexis Mac Allister (now suspended for three games) has played the deepest-lying midfield role in the Reds' opening two Premier League games, while Curtis Jones and Trent Alexander-Arnold have both been used there in pre-season.

The Athletic report does claim that Klopp is still after a 'multi-functional midfielder', name-checking Bayern Munich's Ryan Gravenberch.

Elsewhere in the Daily Mail it has been reported that Liverpool have held 'productive talks' with the German champions over the 21-year-old Dutch midfielder, who has experienced limited game time in Bavaria.

Interestingly, that same report also contradicts Pearce by claiming that Liverpool are also in talks with Crystal Palace for Doucoure, with the Malian still on the Reds' 'radar'.