Jeff Stelling: Liverpool Star Could Exit for Just £15m

The Claim That Has Reds Fans Talking

Jeff Stelling has never been one to tiptoe around a big call. This time, he’s thrown a transfer bombshell that has the Liverpool fanbase buzzing. On his latest talkSPORT appearance, the veteran presenter claimed that one “devastated” Liverpool squad member could be heading for the exit door for a shockingly low fee of just £15 million. For a club that usually demands top dollar for its assets, that price tag reeks of a fire sale - and social media has already gone into meltdown.

The player in question? Wataru Endo. The Japanese international arrived at Anfield with cult-hero status, but has since found himself frozen out of Arne Slot’s long-term plans. Stelling’s suggestion isn’t that Liverpool want to sell - rather, that the player’s frustration over a lack of game time has created a situation where a cut-price move suits everyone involved. With Endo turning 33 next year, the Reds face a classic dilemma: cash in now, or watch his value evaporate while he warms the bench.

Why “devastated”? Sources close to the dressing room paint a picture of a professional who’s given everything in training, only to see younger legs like Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister take the midfield reins. Stelling framed it as a “mutual unhappiness” that could force Liverpool’s hand before the window slams shut. For a player who captained Stuttgart and poured his heart into every red-shirted appearance, the sidelines are clearly taking a toll.

Why £15m Feels Like Pennies - But Makes Perfect Sense

Let’s be honest: £15m for a player of Endo’s experience and international pedigree would have been unthinkable 18 months ago. Liverpool paid Stuttgart around £16m for him in 2023, and he blew past every expectation during that chaotic transitional season. He’s a leader, a destroyer, and a man who has never once moaned publicly. So why would the club accept such a paltry sum?

The answer lies in the market. Endo is 33, his contract runs until 2027, but his role under Slot has been reduced to late-game cameos and cup starts. No club in Europe is going to pay £25m+ for a rotational squad option, especially with his wages factoring in. Stelling’s logic is simple: Liverpool would rather recoup a respectable fee - and free up a squad spot - than hold onto a disgruntled veteran who won’t see meaningful Premier League minutes.

Compare that to how the Reds handled Fabinho’s exit to Al-Ittihad for £40m in 2023. This is a different beast entirely. Endo isn’t a starter, and his profile doesn’t fit the high-press, high-energy system Slot wants to implement. Clubs in the Championship (Leeds, anyone?) or a mid-table Bundesliga side could view £15m as a bargain for a proven international captain. Stelling even hinted that a return to Germany - where Endo starred for Stuttgart - is “very plausible,” with VfB themselves circling.

📊 £15m asking price set for Endo - That’s just £1m less than Liverpool paid for him in 2023, effectively a full refund after three years of service.

But here’s the kicker: selling for £15m means Liverpool take a small loss on paper. That’s a rare occurrence for sporting director Richard Hughes, who’s known for squeezing every penny. Yet the bigger picture is about squad harmony. Keeping a “devastated” player who feels his career is stagnating rarely ends well - just ask any club that’s held onto a wantaway star. A clean break, even at a cut price, lets Slot reshape his midfield without lingering resentment.