Wataru Endo giving Liverpool only one option as transfer decision nears

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Wataru Endo is one of many Liverpool players in the final year of their contract - but would it be wise of the Reds to attempt to cash in this summer?There were plenty of reasons for concern prompted by Liverpool's performances last season. And chief among them was a midfield that rarely functioned anywhere near as effectively as it had done in the Reds' romp to the Premier League title the previous campaign.The engine room is likely to be given a tweak or two by new Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola, although as yet there is no suggestion of a new arrival - a situation that could change if one of the current senior midfield options is moved on.One of many Reds players now into the last 12 months of their current deal, Wataru Endo would seem in a prime position for an exit although, at 33, any fee would only be small.What, though, should happen to the Japan international?

He is, though, a rare commodity in the Liverpool squad at present - a dedicated defensive midfielder.And if the Reds don't strengthen in that department, it would be foolish for Liverpool to swiftly move him on. All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook pageRichard GarnettThe case of Wataru Endo is an intriguing one.

At 33, he is in the twilight of his career and will be fully aware that any move away from Anfield will be to a lesser club.With only a year left to run on his contract, there is little merit to the Reds trying to get a transfer fee for him either, given that the type of figure his is likely to attract will be nominal compared to the bids they are likely to put in for new players across the summer transfer window.The midfielder's stock in his homeland is enormous just by representing a club of the size of Liverpool. And all things considered, Endo would perhaps be content to continue to play a squad role within Andoni Iraola's new-look squad.He is not likely to be offered a new deal, so why not see out your final 12 months with Liverpool and who knows, if he can stay clear of injury, he might have an increased role to play under the Spaniard this season.Iraola needs a bigger squad, not a smaller one, so having a player of his experience around the place won't do any harm whatsoever.