According to report, Wataru Endo, the captain of Stuttgart, is close to joining Liverpool.

Before the transfer deadline, Jurgen Klopp’s team is scrambling to add more midfielders.

Wataru Endo has emerged as a surprise Liverpool target

The Reds sold Fabinho and Jordan Henderson earlier this summer, while James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Naby Keita all left the team for no fee.

Dominik Szoboszlai of RB Leipzig and Alexis MacAllister of Brighton have been purchased by Liverpool.

But the Reds are still without options after Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia passed them over for Chelsea.

According to The Athletic, Liverpool are “closing in” on Endo’s signature.

They add that the Japanese international has been given permission to travel to England to complete his move.

Fabrizio Romano reports the Reds have agreed a £15.5m fee.

Endo, 30, has just a year remaining on his Stuttgart contract.

The Bundesliga club had been eager to renew his deal.

But the player is keen to join Liverpool after learning of their interest.

Endo moved from Sint-Truiden to Stuttgart in 2019, originally on a loan.

He had made the switch from J-League team Urawa Red Diamonds to European football with the Belgian team a year earlier.

Endo is capable of holding midfield as well as center-back.

The 50-cap international was a member of Japan’s World Cup for the last two years.

He participated in Stuttgart’s DFB-Pokal victory over TSG Balingen last weekend, scoring in his team’s 4-0 DFB-Pokal victory.

Endo, 30, played in the World Cup in Qatar