Julen Lopetegui appears to be intent on strengthening his central midfield ranks at West Ham United in the summer transfer window.
The West Ham United head coach has already made three signings in the summer transfer window, and is believed to be closing in on three more, in the form of Crysencio Summerville, Niclas Fullkrug and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
However, Julen Lopetegui will be fully aware that he needs even more reinforcements, if he is to guide his side to a successful campaign.
The Spaniard appears to be on the verge of creating some kind of super team at the London Stadium, and is believed to be chasing French midfielder Youssouf Fofana on top of all the other potential deals.
If Lopetegui manages to sign a central midfield powerhouse, as well as the other three names mentioned above, we could be a real problem for every other team in the Premier League.
If West Ham are unable to get a deal done for Fofana though, the gaffer seemingly has a backup plan in mind…
West Ham want PL midfielder in the summer transfer window
Lopetegui has to bring in more competition for places in his central midfield department this summer, that much is certain.
With Flynn Downes having left to join Southampton on a permanent deal, the Hammers are now extremely short in midfield.
And Lopetegui apparently has a plan up his sleeve to help solve that problem.
talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook has claimed that he’s heard rumours that West Ham are interested in signing Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo this summer.
When speaking on talkSPORT Breakfast this morning (August 2nd), he lifted the lid on a text message he received about the 31-year-old Reds ace.
Crook said, “I have had a message and one name that has been mentioned to me is Endo, from Liverpool. So I’ll have to check out what’s happening with that one.”
Liverpool signed Endo from Stuttgart in the summer of 2023 for a fee believed to be worth £16 million (BBC).
In 29 Premier League appearances for Liverpool he scored one goal, and averaged 1.7 tackles and 1.4 dribbles per game.
During those outings, he made 45 passes per match and recorded a completion rate of 88.4% (Who Scored).
Endo, 31, is a very solid operator, and I think he’d be a very useful addition for West Ham in the summer transfer window, if he’s available for a reasonable fee.
However, given his age, I would much prefer to see us make a move for someone like Youssouf Fofana instead.
The Frenchman is six years younger, is much more explosive and possesses far more athleticism than the Japan international.
It remains to be seen which deal Lopetegui chooses to pursue this summer though.
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