Liverpool put player up for sale just six games into new season as Andoni Iraola gets ruthless
Andoni Iraola is reportedly set to green-light a Liverpool player’s exit three years after the star joined the club during Jürgen Klopp’s tenure.
Liverpool and Iraola have overseen a huge turnover of players over the summer, with stalwarts Mohamed Salah, Andrew Robertson and Ibrahima Konaté moving on after their respective contracts expired, while Curtis Jones, Stefan Bajčetić and Luca Stephenson all departed on permanent transfers.
Meanwhile, Iraola welcomed Bradley Barcola, Jeremy Jacquet, Victor Muñoz, Lucca Brughmans, Ifeanyi Ndukwe and Ronald Araújo (loan).
Despite the Basque head coach being just six games into his time at Anfield, he is reportedly set to allow a first-team player to leave in January.
Liverpool star set to leave in January
It has been widely reported that Japan international Wataru Endo is likely to leave the club after being omitted from Liverpool’s 25-man Champions League squad and failing to play a single minute in the Premier League so far this term.
Advert
READ NEXT: Roy Keane gives brutally honest verdict on Man Utd/JJ Gabriel saga
Endo arrived at Anfield in 2023, completing a £16million move from German side VfB Stuttgart. He made 43 appearances in his first season on Merseyside, scoring twice.
The 33-year-old went on to make a further 32 appearances during Arne Slot’s first season in charge as Liverpool won the Premier League, but his 2025/26 campaign was interrupted by injury problems, limiting him to just eight league appearances and 12 across all competitions.
It appears that Endo has fallen behind youngsters James McConnell and Trey Nyoni in the midfield pecking order under new boss Iraola, with the coach opting to give them a chance during Tuesday’s 3-1 Carabao Cup third-round victory over Spurs at Anfield.
As reported by journalist Ben Jacobs, Endo will be put on the transfer market in January as Liverpool look to cash in on him ahead of the expiry of his contract in 2027.
“Endo’s contract runs out at the end of the season, and it appears likely that Liverpool will look to take advantage of their final opportunity to recoup some money for him in January, with so many players considered to be ahead of him,” Jacobs told GiveMeSport.
“Iraola clearly doesn’t fancy him, and the best outcome for all parties looks to be an exit in a few months’ time.”
What has Andoni Iraola said about Wataru Endo?
Speaking after Liverpool’s 0-0 draw against Fulham last weekend, Iraola discussed how the Japanese international has several players ahead of him in the pecking order.
“I think Wata lost quite a lot of the pre-season,” he said. “I think he’s still not at his best, but he’s training very well. The problem is, in front of him in his position, I have a lot of players. He’s competing against a lot of players because we are also giving minutes to Trey [Nyoni], Ryan [Gravenberch], Alexis [Mac Allister], Dom [Szoboszlai], players that I am selecting right now. But Wata is definitely a player that I like, and for sure he will have his moments.”
Liverpool return to action away at Bournemouth on Sunday (September 20).
Topics: Liverpool, Premier League, Transfer News, Wataru Endo
Luke Davies