Liverpool have rejected an offer of €14 million (£11.8 million) from Marseille for midfielder Wataru Endo, according to The Athletic.
It remains to be seen whether the French club will return with a higher bid for the Japan international, who is also attracting interest from several Bundesliga clubs.
Liverpool are not actively seeking to move Endo.
The timing of Marseille’s bid, the lack of available market opportunities for a suitable replacement, and the current needs of Arne Slot’s squad contributed to the decision to turn down the offer.
The 31-year-old, who has three years remaining on his contract, made 43 appearances for Liverpool last season following his £16.2 million move from Stuttgart.
Liverpool signed Endo as a specialist holding midfielder after missing out to Chelsea in their pursuit of Moisés Caicedo and Romeo Lavia last August.
Endo, currently part of Liverpool’s squad in Philadelphia for the second leg of their U.S. tour, had a challenging start at Anfield but significantly improved after adjusting to the pace and physicality of Premier League football.
While Slot has other options in the holding midfield role, including Alexis Mac Allister, Curtis Jones, and Stefan Bajcetic, Endo would need to be replaced if he departs this summer.
Former Brighton & Hove Albion boss Roberto De Zerbi, who took over at Marseille last month, has already bolstered his squad with the signings of Mason Greenwood from Manchester United and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg on loan from Tottenham.
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