SURGICAL SECRETS: WHAT KIND OF OPERATION DID WATARU ENDO ACTUALLY HAVE THIS WEEK?

Endo surgery success: Get the latest from Hajime Moriyasu on Wataru’s World Cup opener goals and the Liverpool injury fallout today.

Surgical Secrets: What Kind Of Operation Did Wataru Endo Actually Have This Week?
Japan And Liverpool Are Working In Unison On Endo’s Recovery

Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu says Liverpool’s Wataru Endo recently had surgery and now has his sights set on being fit for this summer’s World Cup. Endo got stretchered off with a foot injury during Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Sunderland back on February 11.

There’s still no clear timeline for Endo’s return. Liverpool boss Arne Slot did sound hopeful earlier, saying the Japan captain could play again before the season ends. But with Endo out, Slot’s now down to just four senior midfielders.

Moriyasu’s latest comments don’t really offer much hope for Liverpool fans wanting to see Endo back soon. Speaking to Nikkan Sports, he said Endo’s working toward being ready for Japan’s World Cup opener against the Netherlands on June 14, three days after the tournament starts.

“I’ve heard he had surgery and that it went well, but I don’t know the full details,” Moriyasu said. “The plan is to have him fit in time for the World Cup, so everyone’s focused on his rehab. He wants to play, the club wants it, and so do we. We’re all on the same page.”

Back on February 13, Slot told reporters that Endo would be out for a good while. “We still need to do some assessments, but he’ll be sidelined for quite a long time,” the 47-year-old said.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk admitted the whole squad is pretty down about Endo’s injury. “It’s a shame; we were all really gutted after the Sunderland game,” Van Dijk said. “I had a similar foot injury when I was at Southampton, and it’s tough to deal with. But we’re here for him; we’ll support him in any way we can.

“It’s not great, he’s such a key part of the team, a real leader. On the pitch, he gives everything, and you could see that in the game. It’s a big blow, but we have to deal with it, and we will. Hopefully he’s not out too long, but honestly, it looks like it’ll be a while.”

MOHAMED SALAH SET TO LEAVE LIVERPOOL: FENERBAHCE PREPARE STUNNING THREE-YEAR CONTRACT OFFER

After a decade at Anfield, Mohamed Salah's next move is the talk of football. Will he join Messi or stay in European leagues?

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Salah Rejects Saudi Millions - Photo Credit: Getty Images

Mohamed Salah looks set to leave Liverpool this summer, and it sounds like he wants to stay in Europe. One of the hottest rumours right now is about Fenerbahçe; they’re ready to offer him a three-year deal worth around £52 million. That’s a huge pay packet, but probably not as big as what he’d get in Saudi Arabia.

Salah’s been on Merseyside for almost a decade, and it’s hard to overstate just how much he’s done for Liverpool. Since joining in 2017 with Jurgen Klopp in charge, he’s picked up two Premier League titles, a Champions League medal, an FA Cup, and two League Cups. Pretty impressive, honestly. But this season hasn’t gone his way, and new boss Arne Slot dropped him for a few games after his form dipped. When Salah announced in March that he’d be leaving, people started up with transfer rumours right away.

In recent years, clubs from the Saudi Pro League have shown considerable interest. Last year, Al Ittihad went as far as slapping a £150 million offer on the table, but Liverpool turned it down.

Now the story goes that Salah wants to stay in Europe even though he’d pocket way more in Saudi Arabia. Reports out of Egypt claim Fenerbahce, managed by Jose Mourinho’s old club, have already sat down with Salah’s agent. They apparently laid out their big plans, offering £17.3 million a year with a three-year contract, and they want to build the team around him to end their league title drought stretching back to 2014.

There’s also talk of Real Madrid getting involved. Still, their transfer policy usually steers clear of handing massive contracts to players pushing the end of their careers, even superstars like Salah. Clubs in Italy, like Roma, Juventus, and Inter Milan, are keeping tabs on him too. And just to make things more interesting, someone floated the idea of Salah joining up with Lionel Messi at Inter Miami in the MLS, though the league's salary cap throws a wrench into that.

At this point, everybody’s watching Salah’s next move; the only certainty is that he won’t be short of offers when he finally says goodbye to Liverpool.

WHY IS LIVERPOOL HESITATING TO HIRE XABI ALONSO DESPITE OVERWHELMING FAN SUPPORT?

Liverpool has contacted Real Madrid to investigate Xabi Alonso’s tenure, as pressure grows on current manager Arne Slot at Anfield.

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Liverpool Seek "Inside Scoop" From Madrid On Alonso’s Sacking Background - Photo Credit: Getty Images

Liverpool have reached out to Real Madrid to ask about Xabi Alonso, but honestly, there’s some debate going on behind the scenes. People have been talking about Alonso stepping in at Anfield, especially since Arne Slot’s season hasn’t gone over well. Fans let out some boos after that 1-1 draw with Chelsea, and the mood is pretty tense. Even though Slot led Liverpool to a league title last year, quite a few supporters seem fed up with him and would rather see Alonso take charge.

But Spanish outlet AS says Liverpool have contacted Real Madrid to get the inside scoop on what happened during Alonso’s time at the club. It sounds like the decision-makers at Liverpool are starting to feel unsure about him, and they might actually stick with Slot for another season.

Alonso landed the Real Madrid job last summer after doing wonders at Bayer Leverkusen. Still, just six months in, Madrid let him go, reportedly because the locker room was falling apart. Liverpool’s relationship with Real Madrid is strong, and they apparently want some honest feedback – kind of like asking for a reference from a past employer, which isn’t unusual.

Liverpool’s spot in next year’s Champions League is almost locked in, but with two games left, it’s not guaranteed yet. When asked about the boos, Slot admitted he has some work to do to win fans over.

He said, “Not this season. Fans won’t change their minds now. But if we get the summer we’re planning, I’m convinced we’ll be a different team next season. Results, style, everything. It’s not always easy, though. Sometimes you know what needs fixing, but getting what you want isn’t so simple. This season, it’s been pretty clear what we’re missing. We’re trying to solve it, but one issue is simply having enough fit players. Still, our guys show every week in the second half that they’re giving everything they’ve got.”

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