According to report, Liverpool owners, FSG have made a fresh move to bring there former Sporting Director, Michael Edwards back to Anfield.
Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group have recently engaged in discussions with Michael Edwards in an attempt to reappoint their former transfer specialist.
Last week, Michael Edwards traveled to Boston for a meeting with Liverpool executives as Fenway Sports Group endeavours to persuade their successful former sporting director to return to Anfield. Despite his departure in 2022, Edwards has refrained from joining another football club, prompting the Reds to actively pursue his return as they anticipate Jurgen Klopp’s eventual departure.
Having vacated his position in May 2022, Edwards was succeeded by Julian Ward. However, Ward, who had been with the club for 11 years, announced his departure from the role after only a brief stint.
Klopp’s confidant, Jorg Schmadtke, assumed the interim sporting director position last May. However, Schmadtke, a German, is set to depart in the upcoming summer alongside Klopp’s managerial tenure.
Liverpool are currently in the process of finding a successor for Klopp, with Xabi Alonso and Ruben Amorim identified as top candidates. Prior to intensifying their search for a new manager, the club aim to appoint a director who will oversee the managerial position.
According to The Daily Star, Liverpool’s decision-makers, FSG, arranged for Edwards to travel to their base in Boston, Massachusetts. There, the 44-year-old, renowned for his past success in the transfer market, engaged in discussions with principal owner John W Henry and FSG president Michael Gordon.
However, Edwards will not be returning to Liverpool as sporting director, a role he occupied from 2016 to 2022, contributing significantly to the club’s transfer triumphs. Despite being linked with a return to his former position, Edwards has declined the offer.
Instead, if Edwards were to rejoin the club, it would be in a broader capacity within the football operations. Reports suggest he desires a more influential role, possibly involving the selection of the next sporting director.
Bournemouth technical director Richard Hughes has emerged as a potential candidate for the new position. Interestingly, it has been disclosed that Hughes, who is also admired by Newcastle, will depart from the Cherries in the upcoming summer. The reason behind the 44-year-old’s departure from Bournemouth remains undisclosed.
FSG are keen on reintegrating Edwards into Liverpool, following the success of his data-driven approach in the past. If the former Tottenham and Portsmouth analyst agrees to return, the subsequent step would involve appointing a sporting director.
This move would facilitate Liverpool in expediting the process of securing their next manager. However, luring Alonso away from Bayer Leverkusen may prove challenging, given his ties with the club. Moreover, his former team, Bayern Munich, is also vying for his services next season, making progress in negotiations before Liverpool can present an offer to the Spaniard.
In the event that Liverpool fail to secure Alonso, alternatives such as Sporting tactician Ruben Amorim and Brighton’s Roberto de Zerbi are being considered. Amorim, in particular, has garnered high praise from those who conducted research on potential replacements for Klopp, following his announcement to FSG in November regarding his intention to depart, which was subsequently made public in January.
Liverpool hero Steve McManaman, a regular face at the club’s training ground, said on the Blood Red podcast recently: “They should try to bring Michael [Edwards] back, of course they should. Funnily enough, I spoke to him the other day about it because he lives by me.
“In what capacity they would bring him back, I don’t know. I think Michael has moved on from being a sporting director. I don’t know if he could go back to the same role he had. It would be great if he could come back, but I don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes.”
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