Future of £16m Liverpool star revealed as 'uncertainty' emerges

Liverpool are currently fifth in the Premier League.

This is the same position that they ended the 2025-26 season in and what resulted in Arne Slot being sacked.

Indeed, we're only a few months into the new campaign at the moment but, fans would have probably hoped to see some more signs of improvement than what they've been shown thus far.

Of course, it may take some players longer than others to get adjusted to Andoni Iraola's ways but, if they don't get back and track and start working their way back up the table soon, some serious questions will need to be asked.

The futures of many Liverpool players are currently being discussed and now, an update has emerged about one of the Anfield outfit's men.

Wataru Endo is 'certainly' going to leave Liverpool in 2027

Several members of Liverpool's first-team squad have their contracts expiring in June 2027.

Alisson, Wataru Endo and Virgil van Dijk are just a select few who could end up exiting L4 this summer.

No discussions about extending the contract of any of the aforementioned trio have taken place yet with the Liverpool ECHO now sharing their latest information about the future of Endo.

"Endo will certainly leave the Reds in 2027," they wrote.

"He is out of contract next summer with the only uncertainty being whether he departs in January or sees out his deal and leaves on a free transfer."

Liverpool must decide whether they need to keep Wataru Endo at Anfield until the end of the season

When Endo was first signed by Jurgen Klopp back in 2023 for £16 million, he was seen as a bit of an out there signing.

The deal for the Japanese international came out of nowhere and went against almost every transfer strategy that Liverpool had adopted during the years prior.

However, he fit right into Klopp's plans and was even seen as his 'closer' after a few months into being a Liverpool player.

Wherever the midfielder was needed on the pitch, he always put in as much effort as possible but, after his injury last season, things just haven't been the same.

He's had no playing time under Iraola and, even though the Spaniard said he'd get his chance this term, that doesn't feel all that likely now.

So, with the January transfer window coming up, the Reds must decide whether they think they can complete the season without him among their ranks.

If they can, they should try their best to find him an exit route and allow him to see his final years as a footballer out as a regular starter, rather than a bench-warmer.

Obviously, the Reds are going to lose money on his exit but, since he's now 33 years old, Endo's next transfer is likely to be his last before retirement.