Liverpool decide who is coming to replace Giovanni Leoni | OneFootball

Liverpool missed out on signing Marc Guehi right at the end of the summer transfer window.

Having courted the Crystal Palace captain all summer, Richard Hughes made his move for the England international on transfer deadline day.

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The Reds’ sporting director agreed to pay an initial £35m for the 25-year-old - who is out of contract at the end of the season.

But Palace’s failure to land a suitable replacement meant that they were unwilling to sanction their skipper’s departure - even if that means they risk losing him for free at the end of the current campaign.

Liverpool's need for a centre-back

Missing out on Guehi was bad enough as it meant Liverpool having only Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez and Giovanni Leoni as their centre-back options for the title defence.

And things got even WORSE when Leoni, 18, suffered a season-ending ACL injury on his debut against Southampton last week.

- meaning they are only one injury or suspension away from a crisis in the position.

The could opt to make a move for Guehi in the January window or else try to do a deal for the Englishman on a free in 2026. In the meantime Liverpool will need numbers.

There is an outside chance that Rhys Williams comes back into the equation to bulk out the squad. But a report from Football Insider now suggests that Arne Slot is preparing another “surprise” solution to Liverpool’s centre-back shortage.

Wataru Endo chosen to replace Leoni

Wataru Endo, 32, has played the majority of his football for Liverpool in centre midfield. However, before arriving in Europe he played at centre-back for Japanese clubs Shonane Bellmare and Urawa Red Diamonds.

On occasion he has filled in at centre-back for Arne Slot at Liverpool - including appearances in the FA Cup and EFL Cup.

He is however by no means a specialist.

But given the competition for places in midfield from Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones, it appears Endo will be asked to provide emergency cover at centre-back until January at least.

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Liverpool could be in 'difficult position'

“It was a huge blow to lose Leoni, it looks like it could sideline him for the rest of the season,” the report reads.

“It does leave Liverpool short of centre-back options, there’s no getting away from that.

“So, now they’re down to Van Dijk, Konate, Gomez and probably Endo as a sort of cover centre-back, which is a surprise given he has played his whole career in midfield.

“Especially if they plan to be competing for honours on all fronts this year, they probably do need more cover than that at centre-back.

“If there are any more injuries there, they could find themselves in a real difficult position.”

Endo has earned cult hero status at Anfield since joining from Stuttgart as part of a midfield revamp in 2023.

He came close to leaving the club in summer 2024 when Marseille were interested but ultimately stayed put to provide cover for Arne Slot. The Japan captain is under contract with the Reds until 2027.