Wataru Endo Liverpool's Plan C according to Michael Owen

Stuart Telford

• 20 Aug 2023 09:56 BST
• 3 min read

Liverpool have finally signed a defensive midfielder in Wataru Endo, but for club legend Michael Owen the Reds are settling for at least third best.

Endo completed his shock €19 million move to Liverpool from VfB Stuttgart on Friday and made his debut, from the bench, as Jurgen Klopp's side beat Bournemouth 3-1 on Saturday.

The 30-year-old Japan international impressed, with five won duels and an interception, as well as completing 88 per cent of his passes.

READ: Liverpool handed BOOST in midfield search as club FORCED into selling stars

But Liverpool had previously lost out on younger models Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia to Chelsea, and Owen was quick to comment on that situation after the game.

"Quite clearly he wasn't their first choice, let's get it right," said the 2001 Ballon d'Or winner. "But I like the way Liverpool have given a bit of clarity, they've gone and done it.

"The longer that went on without having that No.6, the more the prices get ramped up and all kinds. There's a lot of nervousness amongst the fans and the players.

READ: Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia give Chelsea midfield minefield

Third time lucky with Endo

"Target one, that didn't happen, target two, that didn't happen. The next day virtually we heard there was a medical taking place, a fee being agreed etcetera, so I think Liverpool should be commended for that. They've taken a lot of criticism in the last week or two for not getting a couple of signings over the line."

Liverpool did sign fellow midfielders Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai from Brighton and RB Leipzig respectively this summer, but they both have more attacking profiles than Endo.

The need for a new defensive midfielder was pronounced, with Fabinho leaving for Al-Ittihad, following Jordan Henderson to the Saudi Pro League after the club captain agreed terms with Steven Gerrard's Al-Ettifaq.

Endo is valued at just €7.2m by FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm, and has an ETV (expected transfer value) of €10.4m, suggesting they have overpaid, although with Caicedo's fee reaching €116m, perhaps it will prove money well spent.