Arne Slot hints that he’s completely changed his mind about ‘unbelievable’ Reds player after Liverpool vs Brentford

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With no more games to play before the deadline passes, all eyes are now on the transfer window for Liverpool.

The Reds have so far failed to add any new players to their squad and could yet see a number go out the other way, too.

There was good news on Monday, with it emerging that a deal to sign Giorgi Mamardashvili is very nearly complete.

But Mamardashvili will not join the Liverpool squad until 2025. There needs to be one or two more imminent arrivals at Anfield.

As Liverpool supporters wait in anticipation of an exciting end to the summer, though, one player looks to have just quietly made his way back into Arne Slot’s plans.

Arne Slot drops Wataru Endo hint

If Liverpool do not add to their squad over the next couple of days, then what they must not do is sell themselves short in terms of outgoings.

There have been rumours that the likes of Tyler Morton could leave permanently, with reports also suggesting that Liverpool are looking to loan Stefan Bajcetic.

With both Morton and Bajcetic obviously midfield players, either or both leaving would weaken the Reds in the middle of the pitch.

Earlier in the summer it had looked as though the two youngsters would not be the only midfielders leaving Liverpool before August the 30th. Having struggled in pre-season, there were reports that Wataru Endo had been put up for sale.

Even former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher suggested that Endo is ‘completely the opposite’ of what Slot wants in his midfield.

With all of that in mind, it had felt inevitable that Endo’s Liverpool career was soon to be over after just one season.

READ MORE: Liverpool insiders think that ‘unbelievable’ player is going to leave next year

But after the Reds failed to sign Martin Zubimendi, Wataru has done what he always does: graft, and then graft some more.

Endo’s hard work was rewarded on Sunday where he made a late appearance in the 2-0 win over Brentford. Although he was only given a few minutes on the pitch, the Japan captain coming on was a signal that he now has a role to play.

This was something that Slot himself underlined post-game. Asked specifically about his No.3, Slot praised Endo’s displays in training.

“We are really pleased with the way Wata is training for us,” said the Dutch coach. “He will be important for us during the season because we need all of them.”

Wataru Endo set for Liverpool role

You really have to take your hat off to Endo. Perhaps things would have been different if Zubimendi had signed, but the former Stuttgart man is really digging in and looks like coming out on top.

It’s worth looking back to a year ago, when Endo made his debut against Bournemouth at Anfield.

In that game and for quite a few afterwards, the defensive midfielder looked incapable of adjusting to the demands of Jurgen Klopp’s system.

Suddenly, though, something clicked and Endo looked a perfect fit for that lone midfield role. His performance against Man City in March, for example, shouldn’t be forgotten. Peter Crouch called Endo ‘unbelievable‘ that day.

Fast forward 12 months and Endo is once again having to learn some brand new tactical ideas. The Japanese did it once and it now looks clear that he’ll stay at Liverpool and have the unlikely chance to do it again.