Liverpool to beat Man Utd to key post-Klopp appointment

Stuart Telford

• 10 Mar 2024 10:10 GMT
• 3 min read

Liverpool are poised to beat Manchester United to the signing of former executive Michael Edwards, with FSG working hard to bring him back to Anfield.

Edwards left Liverpool in 2022 having overseen some top transfers, such as the arrivals of Mohamed Salah and Virgil Van Dijk at Anfield.

And he has been in high demand since, with United planning an overhaul of their own football operation now that Sir Jim Ratcliffe's £1.3 billion investment in the club has been ratified.

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There is a coming period of flux at each of England's two most successful sides, with Jurgen Klopp announcing that he would leave Liverpool at the end of the season, taking most if not all of his backroom team with him.

Edwards to be given more senior role

"Michael Edwards is close to agreeing a senior role with Fenway Sports Group, which would include the former Liverpool executive taking oversight of the club’s football operations.," reports David Ornstein for The Athletic.

"… If Edwards accepts FSG's offer, the sporting director position is expected to be filled by Richard Hughes, whose exit as Bournemouth technical director was confirmed on Wednesday."

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Edwards won't simply return as sporting director, then, but as someone who will oversee the whole restructure of the club, whilst not necessarily being tied to Anfield itself.

One of his first tasks will be to recruit a new manager. Former player Xabi Alonso is a frontrunner after leading Bayer Leverkusen to the top of the Bundesliga this season, but it is understood the Reds will face stiff competition from Bayern Munich.

Ruben Amorim and Julian Nagelsmann are understood to be alternatives.

Whomever the new manager is, he may have to contend with life without Salah, with the Saudi Pro League expected to come back in for the star winger, who turns 32 in June, next summer.