Liverpool 'request' Waldemar Anton transfer information after 'biggest club' comment made

Liverpool has 'requested information' on VfB Stuttgart defender Waldemar Anton, according to reports from Germany. Arne Slot is approaching his first transfer window in charge of the club and defensive reinforcements are expected to be a priority.

Anton, 27, inherited the armband from Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endõ when he switched from the Bundesliga to the Premier League last season. The Japanese midfielder has settled well in England and could be set to reunite with his former Stuttgart teammate, who has emerged as a target for the Reds.

Joël Matip, Ibrahima Konaté and Joe Gomez were all sidelined through injuries during the 2023/24 season, which caused some selection headaches for former boss Jürgen Klopp. The emergence of Jarell Quansah did ease these issues, although reinforcements within the centre of defence will still be needed - especially with Matip parting ways with the club this summer.

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Sporting Club de Portugal duo Gonçalo Inácio and Ousmane Diomande have been mentioned as possible options, as well as Bayer Leverkusen's Piero Hincapié, and Anton is now the latest name to be linked. According to BILD, Liverpool has 'requested information' on the German defender, who is also capable of playing at right-back and in midfield.

The report goes on to state that Anton has a $24.4million (€22.5m/£19m) release clause in his current contract at Stuttgart, which is set to expire in 2027. Anton has previously been vocal of his admiration for Liverpool, after labelling the club as one of the 'best in the world' when Endõ made the switch.

"Of course, we would all have preferred it if Wataru had stayed because he is simply great in terms of sport and personality," he said. "But he's not going anywhere, he's going to Liverpool FC, one of the best clubs in the world. We understand he wanted to seize this opportunity and we wish him the best.”

Liverpool.com says: Whether or not he is a legitimate target for Liverpool remains to be seen. However, as he approaches his 28th birthday, it would mark a shift away from the FSG transfer plan we saw last summer, which focused on signing young, promising players who could hold a strong resale value in the future.