Liverpool have missed out on signing Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi in the summer transfer window.
The Reds were under the impression that the 25-year-old would be willing to move to Anfield, but after a dramatic turn of events, he has opted to remain at the La Liga club.
The news will come as a blow for Arne Slot who identified Zubimendi as the perfect No. 6 for his side.
Liverpool do have enough midfielders in their ranks, and it seems they will not look for another player in this window after missing out on the Spain international.
Slot will have to find ways to get the best out of existing resources at his disposal.
The natural solution could be Wataru Endo who was signed by Jurgen Klopp last season for £16.2 million from German club Stuttgart.
The 31-year-old, who still has three years remaining on his contract, made 43 appearances last season, but he may find game time hard to come by this season.
According to Paul Joyce of The Times, Endo is a more “destructive” No 6 who is unsuited to the demands of the new coach. He has already fallen out of favour under Slot during the pre-season.
The new Reds boss wants a midfielder who can be an excellent passer and has ball-retention ability. Endo lacks that quality, but he can still be a valuable member of the side.
Earlier this summer, French outfit Marseille made a £11.8 million bid to sign Endo, but it was swiftly rejected.
It will be interesting to see what combination Slot goes with in midfield to counter this problem.
Liverpool feel that Ryan Gravenberch and Curtis Jones can partner Alexis MacAllister in midfield, while Dominik Szoboszlai and Trent Alexander-Arnold can also fulfil the role.
The Reds have Stefan Bajcetic as another promising young player who can make a breakthrough this season, while 17-year-old Trey Nyoni could be another option.
