Jurgen Klopp’s side have lost just one top-flight game this season and are hoping to return to the Champions League after qualifying for the Europa League last season.
Despite their impressive performances so far, the Reds could use the January transfer window to revitalize the second half of the season.
Liverpool have recently been interested in Boca Juniors defensive midfielder Ezequiel Fernandes, along with Benfica, and Klopp could re-sign Wataru Endo for the 21-year-old star overnight. How has Endo performed this season?The Reds signed the Japan international from Stuttgart for £16.2m in the summer transfer window, but he has had a difficult start to the season.
Endo was an unused substitute in the recent 2-0 win over Everton. He has made just five Premier League appearances this season and has failed to make much of an impact at the ends of the pitch.
Wataru-Endo-Liverpool-Klopp-TransferAccording to SofaScore, he created no chances for his teammates, recorded 0.8 tackles and interceptions and had a tackle success rate of 41%. Endo has also struggled in Liverpool’s two Europa League starts, registering zero key passes and an interception along with two tackles in the matches against LASK and USG.
These stats show that the former Bundesliga player doesn’t always make defensive interventions to help the defence, but neither does he provide creativity in possession for the attack.
Should Liverpool sign Ezequiel Fernandes?
Klopp should make a move for the 6ft 3in defensive midfielder as his performances for Boca Juniors this year suggest there is potential to quickly re-sign the former Stuttgart man in January. The left-handed striker, once dubbed an “orchestra” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, may offer more ball-winning qualities than the 30-year-old Reds.
Fernandez played in 8 matches in this year’s Copa de la Liga, averaging 2.9 shots per game with a 90% success rate. The youngster also averaged 2.7 goals and interceptions per game and won 61% of his face-offs across 19 professional soccer leagues in 2023.
Fernandez’s last appearance for Boca Juniors (based on SOFAScore)
These statistics show that the 21-year-old talent, who has created three “big chances” for his team-mates in 19 games, is a ball-winning midfielder who can break down opponents to win back possession for his side. So if the youngster can adapt to English football, he could be a huge upgrade for Endo, who has failed to display either defensive or attacking ability during his short spell at Liverpool.
That’s down to his remarkable ability off the ball and the nine years he’s had to develop and improve on the Japanese player. However, it is still unknown how much Boca Juniors will demand for his services or how much the Reds are willing to pay for him.
