Liverpool reject Marseille bid for Wataru Endo after being offered less than they paid Stuttgart to sign the Japan captain last year

Liverpool have rejected an £11.8million bid from French club Marseille for Japan midfielder Wataru Endo.

The Reds signed the relatively unknown Endo last August from German side Stuttgart in a £16.2m deal and he played 43 times as Liverpool needed a solid No 6 after losing Fabinho and Jordan Henderson in the same summer.

But given Endo is now 31, it would be fair to say he is not a long-term solution and Liverpool fans have called for the club to upgrade the holding midfield department. Arne Slot‘s side are the only Premier League team not to make a senior signing this summer.

Liverpool are not actively looking to move on Endo – especially until they sign a new midfielder, if they do. There has been interest in the Japan captain, though the approach from Roberto De Zerbi‘s side is the only official bid so far.

The Merseyside club missed out on Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia last summer as both went to Chelsea – and Endo was brought in after his numbers for Stuttgart excelled. He was available at a cheap price.

Endo (left) played 45 minutes in Liverpool’s 1-0 victory over Real Betis in a friendly this week

French Ligue 1 club Marseille have already been very busy in the transfer market this summer

Not many Liverpool fans had heard of Endo before he signed but Jurgen Klopp, the then manager, was given stellar references from many contacts in Germany, including the former Borussia Dortmund captain Mats Hummels.

It remains to be seen whether Marseille return with a second offer now or later in the transfer window. The French side have also signed Mason Greenwood from Manchester United this summer for £26.6m, as well as Tottenham midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg on loan with an obligation to buy.