Transfer guru breaks silence as Liverpool step up Edwards chase

Tom Weber

Updated: 8 Mar 2024 17:24 GMT
3 min read

Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool, Carabao Cup 2023/24 — © IMAGO

Liverpool's search for a new sporting director is entering a decisive phase.

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The Reds are scrambling to appoint a new recruitment chief after short-term solution Jorg Schmadtke announced his departure following the January transfer window. What makes the hire of a new sporting director so important is the fact that he will be tasked with finding an adequate successor to Jurgen Klopp.

Liverpool are in talks to bring Michael Edwards back to the club. He is the man who constructed Klopp's Champions League and Premier League-winning side and made a name for himself as a transfer genius. Edwards rebuffed Liverpool's first approach, but a new round of talks has begun, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Liverpool are also looking at contingency options. One of them is Nice sporting director Florent Ghisolfi. However, the Ligue 1 side are owned by INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Man Utd's new minority shareholder, and he could block a move. Moreover, Ghisolfi does not seem to be particularly keen to leave the French Riviera.

In a recent interview, in which he also talked about long-term Liverpool target Khephren Thuram, he stated: “The requests from big clubs are rewarding. For me and all of my teams, the work is collective, but today, I am very proud to be the sporting director of OGC Nice and proud to work with [CEO] Fabrice [Bocquet] and the board.”

Reds step up Edwards chase

While Ghisolfi is only a backup option, Edwards remains the priority for the Reds and talks are once again being held, according to Fabrizio Romano. "The conversation is ongoing," he said on his YouTube channel, "and it is a positive one because Liverpool are trying to convince him and he is taking his time to understand how the bid is structured."

"From what I understand, in case Michael Edwards accepts the job at Liverpool, he will be joined by Richard Hughes. It's a very concrete possibility. Hughes is leaving Bournemouth at the end of the season and he could be one of the men to join Michael Edwards in the new structure of Liverpool."

"So, the conversation is ongoing on all these details of this domino [of] directors around England, but Michael Edwards is in concrete conversations with Liverpool and Richard Hughes is a strong candidate to join him in case everything goes to plan."

Read more about: Ligue 1, Premier League, Liverpool, Nice