via Echo
Looking back to last summer, it should be no surprise that Liverpool turned to the Bundesliga for the bulk of their £150m midfield overhaul
When Jorg Schmadtke was appointed as the Reds’ new sporting director on a short-term contract
With the departing Julian Ward staying on an extra week to help oversee the already-agreed £35m arrival of Alexis Mac Allister
Schmadtke then stepped in and made use of his contacts in his homeland over the rest of the summer.
Dominik Szoboszlai was brought in from RB Leipzig in a £60m deal after Liverpool activated his release clause
Ryan Gravenberch was belatedly snapped up from Bayern Munich in a deal worth up to £40m on transfer deadline day.
After missing out on the likes of Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia, and Andre Trindade, Liverpool eventually settled on Wataru Endo from VfB Stuttgart
his £16.2m arrival, after overcoming a slow start, now looks both a bargain and a masterstroke.
Admittedly, Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, and Endo have endured contrasting fortunes during their first season on Merseyside.
The Hungarian started strongly, only to go off the boil during the second half of the season after suffering two hamstring injuries
Meanwhile, the Netherlands international has impressed in glimpses but struggled to nail down a regular place in the side.
The now 31-year-old Endo will have surprised a lot of people in England as a result, but not Liverpool legend Didi Hamann.
having seen plenty of Endo in the Bundesliga prior to his own move to Liverpool, Hamann has not been surprised by his success at Anfield
Hamann
No, he hasn’t surprised me,
“When he came, you don’t always need the big names, maybe it was a blessing not to get Caicedo for 100-odd million because I knew what a good player he is.
“He kept a struggling side together. I said all along, I think he will surprise a few people because he’s very disciplined, technically very gifted, two-footed, and an absolute team player.
“I’m not surprised at all. It took a few weeks or a few months to get into the rhythm, maybe to get used to the pace of the Premier League, but no, he hasn’t surprised me at all. He’s a class act
While Endo might not have surprised Hamann, Szoboszlai has - and in more ways than one
The German was taken aback by the Hungarian’s strong start to life at Anfield, and remains unconvinced by his £60m transfer fee.
Hamann added
It was surprising how well he started because, from my own experience, I know that it takes a few weeks and months to get used to the pace of the Premier League,”
“I was surprised how well he started.
“I thought it was a lot of money they paid for him. I think he’s a very capable player, but the jury is still out.
“As an offensive player, it’s always harder to get consistency. He’s had a few injuries as well in the second half of the season, and the jury is out regarding how good a buy he actually was.”
As a former Bayern Munich player himself, Hamann saw Gravenberch struggle in Bavaria last season
Despite a mixed start on Merseyside, the German is convinced there is more to come
Hamann said
“I think he’s probably having a bit more of an impact at Liverpool than he did at Bayern,”
“Then again, the competition for places might be a bit higher at Liverpool.
“Obviously, he’s got to start playing on a regular basis now and obviously start affecting the games. He’s been brought in to… he’s a big man, he’s got a bit of pace about him, he can finish.
“He has to set up goals and he has to score goals, because there have been times at Liverpool this season where they have needed a goal from somewhere.
“There have been times when he’s had a chance to make a name for himself but didn’t.
“It’s his first season, I hope he gets another season, but I think next season he has got to do better than he did this one.
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