Liverpool is close to making an unexpected move. A deal for Wataru Endo is moving quickly, and the price has now been made public.

Endo, who is 30, was not what Liverpool fans were expecting for their third signing of the summer, but all signs point to him coming soon.

The Athletic reports that the Stuttgart captain has been given the go-ahead to travel to Merseyside to finish a deal. The Reds moved quickly after two recent disappointments.

David Ornstein says that German sources say the fee is around €19 million (£16.24 million). The player had one year left on his deal in Germany.

Talks are already far along, so it’s likely that this deal will be done quickly and Endo will join Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai as summer arrivals.

On the surface, it may not be clear why the club chose this path. However, if they want to replace the lost leadership and knowledge, it makes sense.

Endo is the leader of both his club and his country right now, and German experts praise him for being aggressive, energetic, and disciplined.

As long as the club also brings in a younger, better defensive player who is ready to play right away, this can be seen as a smart move by the club.

The 30-year-old can help fill the spot left by James Milner, Fabinho, and Jordan Henderson without having the same amount of miles on his knees.

He is versatile enough to play as both a defensive midfielder and a center back, which is something Jurgen Klopp looks for. With a test scheduled for Thursday, it looks like Klopp will get what he wants.

Sky in Italy also says that Liverpool and Fiorentina have talked about the possible signing of Sofyan Amrabat through third parties.