New Liverpool signing Wataru Endo is known as an ‘incredibly dedicated professional’ at Stuttgart.
Endo is on the verge of becoming Liverpool’s newest recruit, with an announcement hopefully set to come today. The move has been met with sheer surprise by Reds fans, most of whom will know little about the 30-year-old.
In the days since news of the transfer broke though, plenty has been written about Endo, most of it in glowing terms. Continuing that theme today, The Athletic give some insight into what to expect from the Japanese.
As well as being described as a ‘humble and quiet leader,’ a light is also shone on his dedicated training habits. And it’s fair to say that James Milner would be proud.
It’s claimed that Endo ‘looks after himself and his body’ and is even said to head ‘straight for the gym’ after long trips on international duty. Jurgen Klopp’s going to love him.
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Endo steps into Milner’s shoes
By all accounts, Liverpool are getting an absolute model professional in Endo. Having lost Milner and Jordan Henderson this summer, that doesn’t seem like an accident.
Klopp has long hailed the professionalism of the likes of his former captain and vice captain.
Milner and Henderson often set the tone around the club in terms of what’s expected from players each and every day.
Without the pair of them this season, there has been a worry that this culture could now be lost.
Obviously, Liverpool already have players who can step into that breach. Virgil van Dijk has always been a superb role model to the younger players in the squad and will step that up now he wears the armband.
There are other leaders amongst the squad. Trent Alexander-Arnold will take his new duties as vice captain seriously, while Andy Robertson, Dominik Szoboszlai and Mohamed Salah all captain their national teams.
With Endo also an international skipper, Klopp is building quite the collection at Anfield. Targeting young, exciting players is always what everyone wants to see. But you need some grafters in there, too. It sounds like in Endo, that’s exactly what Liverpool are getting.