Liverpool made a surprise reinforcement, signing Japanese midfielder Wataru Endo. Liverpool had initially been interested in the defensive midfielder in his early 20s, but after failing to land Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, and with the Premier League season about to start, they have made a pragmatic move.
James Milner left at the end of his contract, and Jordan Henderson also left. The former Stuttgart midfielder’s experience and leadership as captain of both club and national team will be a valuable asset to a team that has lost its captaincy in one fell swoop.
However, Liverpool is looking to further strengthen its midfield, with Crystal Palace midfielder Cheick Doucouré and others being linked with a move.
According to Foot Mercato, they are also interested in Gabonese midfielder Mario Lemina, who plays for Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The 29-year-old midfielder, who has experience in the Premier League having played for Southampton and Fulham, made 19 appearances in the domestic league when he switched places from Nice to Wolves midway through last season.
As a defensive midfielder, he showed a solid work ethic, winning the ball for his opponents while also connecting up front.
However, the chances of Liverpool making a move for him are almost nil, as they already have 30-year-old Endo in their squad and do not need any more Alaska players.
From here on, as originally planned, the top priority is a physically fit player in his early 20s, and even if the transfer fee is cheap, it seems unlikely that Liverpool will land him.
The team’s composition may change with the departure of coach Julen Lopetegui and the arrival of new coach Gary O’Neill, who has been a favorite of the Alaskans.
Can the Gabonese midfielder, who will soon reach the age of 30, continue to show his skills at Wolves this season?