Reds eye World Cup midfielder

Reports in Japan are suggesting that Liverpool may be interested in highly rated Gamba Osaka midfielder Yasuhito Endo and could make a summer move for the 30 year old now that Roy Hodgson has been confirmed as Anfield boss.

The all purpose midfielder had a great World Cup for Japan and has been linked with many sides and after nine years at his current club he would surely jump at the chance of a move to the Premier League side. He is valued at around £8m so is probably well within the former Craven Cottage manager's restricted budget.

Hodgson has been told that he may need to offload some of his squad before he can invest in his squad and the likes of Ryan Babel and Albert Riera could be sacrificed and Yossi Benayoun has now left for Chelsea to help generate funds for the new boss.

Endo has the ability to perform as both a defence minded midfielder but also has an eye for goal and has consistently been on hand to score crucial, and sometimes spectacular, goals for club and country.

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.