Photo by Helios de la Rubia/Real Madrid via Getty Images
Photo by Helios de la Rubia/Real Madrid via Getty Images
Liverpool fans will soon be able to get stuck back into the transfer rumour mill, with the clock already ticking down until the January window opens.
The Reds do not often do business in the winter market, but when they do, they tend to make it count. The likes of Virgil van Dijk, Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo and Philippe Coutinho all arrived in January, and with the Liverpool squad left a little short after the summer, there is a chance that something could happen again.
If it does, it may well be at right wing, where Liverpool were actively pushing to make a new signing right up until the final days of the summer. Yankuba Minteh is reportedly still hoping to join, but after an intriguing new update on the future of Real Madrid star Endrick, supporters should have one eye on what’s happening with the Brazilian as well.
Kevin Schade
Endrick could leave if game time does not improve
Before they even turned to Minteh and Ismaila Sarr, there were claims that Liverpool had enquired about signing Endrick from Real Madrid, only to be told that the 20-year-old was not for sale.
After a good loan spell at Lyon, Endrick was seemingly dead-set on making more of an impact for Los Blancos, and according to journalist Fabrizio Romano, this led to the rejection of approaches from Aston Villa, Roma, AC Milan and Liverpool towards the end of the summer.
“In the summer Endrick had three main possibilities: One was a loan to Aston Villa, another one was a loan to Roma, another was a loan to Milan. Then there was also interest from Liverpool, Liverpool were keen on Endrick, but that’s it, they never presented any sort of proposal,” he said on his YouTube channel on Sunday.
“These three clubs [Villa, Roma, Milan] were very aggressive. Liverpool were thinking of Endrick, even to buy him at some point, but Real Madrid closed the door to loan and permanent transfer approaches.”
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“For Real Madrid, Florentino Perez, people in the management and Jose Mourinho himself, it was not possible to touch the player. Endrick and Real Madrid decided to continue.”
Since then, things have not gone especially well for Endrick, however. Injury has played a big part, but the Brazil international has remarkably played only four minutes for Real all season. He is fit, having featured three times for his country during the current international break, but he has repeatedly been overlooked by Mourinho.
For now, staying at Madrid has looked like a bad move from Endrick, but the January window – and another potential opportunity to leave – is now less than three months away. Romano insists that the youngster is focused on his current team for now, but if things do not change in October, November and December, a move could be back on the table.
“Let’s see what’s going to happen in October, November, December, there are three months of football ahead, and so before saying Endrick is going we have to see how much he’s going to play at Real Madrid and what’s going to happen in these three months,” he said.
“At the moment, the focus of Endrick is on Real Madrid, that’s it. What’s going to happen beyond December and in the January window depends on his game time with Real Madrid.”
Liverpool should try for Endrick in January
Obviously, Romano is right, there is a lot which can change in three months. Real Madrid could pick up some injuries, making Endrick immediately more important, or the former Palmeiras starlet could simply take a chance handed to him and impress Mourinho.
If those things do not happen, though, Endrick really should be looking to find himself a new club in January. After choosing not to make another attacking signing, Liverpool should be the most attractive option available to him.
Had they been able to sign Endrick this summer, it is highly likely that Cody Gakpo would have left Liverpool in August. That the Dutchman remains at the club – and has started the season very well indeed – may change the thinking, with the Reds deducing that they do not need another forward signing.
That would be a mistake, though, because – as Gakpo’s current injury problem has highlighted – they do still look slightly short even with their No. 18 onboard. Bringing in a player like Endrick mid-season would be a huge boost, and from the player’s point of view, he could come in and nail down a spot on the right.
Clearly, this will all be redundant if his game time at Madrid picks up. That is obviously where Endrick wants to be in an ideal world and if he is playing, there is no reason for him to leave. If not, however, there could be an opportunity there for Liverpool, and fans should be watching closely to see if Mourinho shows any sign of changing his mind here.
If he does not, Liverpool have to get to the front of the queue and convince Endrick that if he is to make the most of his talent, he might have to do it elsewhere. Namely, at Anfield.
Photo by Roy Lazet/Soccrates/Getty Images
Photo by Roy Lazet/Soccrates/Getty Images