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Liverpool have a big season ahead of them and they will need all their players to contribute at some point throughout the campaign.

The Reds have spent huge sums of money this summer, close to £300m to be precise, but sometimes they find a hidden gem, a needle in a haystack.

Wataru Endo is this hidden gem.

Eyebrows were raised when he signed from VfB Stuttgart for £16m back in 2023, mainly due to the Japanese international already being 30.

As well as this, going from being linked to Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia to Endo might have been a little underwhelming for Reds fans, but they can now see why the move was made.

The midfielder may not get many minutes, but he is the perfect squad player who also has an abundance of quality.

He usually comes on towards the end of games to see it out, and nine times out of 10 that is exactly what he does, to very good effect as well.

Now, ahead of Liverpool’s title defence, Endo has revealed what he is willing to do to play a crucial role next season, and it is something fans will only love him more for.

Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images

Arne Slot loves honest players who work hard, give it their all and can play in multiple areas of the pitch, Endo fits this profile perfectly.

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He really is a manager’s dream and anyone would be lucky to have him as part of their squad, with the 32-year-old proving to his manager once again why he will be crucial for him next season after an honest meeting.

“When I spoke with Arne I said I don’t mind where I play,” Endo told Liverpoolfc.com.

“I can play as a six, at right-back or at centre-back – I don’t mind and I will just always give 100 per cent to the team.

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“I used to play centre-back when I was in Japan so I don’t mind where I play for Liverpool.”

Endo is often used as a holding midfielder, coming on to replace Ryan Gravenberch whenever he needs a rest.

However, like he said, he has also played centre-back in the past, a position he might be asked to play more often than not next season, given the crisis the Reds could have at the back if they are not careful.

The Reds have been linked with a new centre-half all summer, with Marc Guehi the player most regularly linked with a move.

However, with Liverpool and Crystal Palace a little too far apart in valuation as things stand, they could move on to other targets, or even not sign one at all.

Endo is seen as an option by people at the club to step up and play there at points next season, suggesting this is where most of his minutes will come from.

With just three senior centre-backs at the club too, any sort of injury to any of them will mean that the Japan captain will also play more often than not, something that could come back to bite them despite his quality.