Liverpool to battle Bayern for controversial sporting director
Tom Weber
- Updated: 14 Oct 2023 04:57 CDT
- 4 min read
Liverpool have contacted former RB Leipzig director of sport Max Eberl, according to a report.
Prior to the summer window, the Reds brought in Jorg Schmadtke to oversee their recruitment after sporting director Julian Ward departed. Schmadtke, formerly in charge of recruitment at Wolfsburg, had retired after leaving the German side but decided this was an opportunity too good to pass up.
Though the relationship between Schmadtke and head coach Jurgen Klopp was different from what the former was used to in Germany - with Schmadtke describing Klopp as his "superior" - the two worked well together and overcame some difficulties in the summer to achieve a successful window with the signings of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch, all of whom, except Mac Allister, arriving from the Bundesliga.
READ: Long-time Man Utd and Liverpool target breaks silence on transfer 'temptations'
When he arrived, Schmadtke only signed a short-term contract, however. While he could stay on until next year, he and Liverpool have the ability to part ways now that the window has closed.
Reds eye Eberl
This means that the Reds have to think about the future. Hence, according to 90mins, they have initiated contact with free agent Max Eberl.
Eberl is a controversial figure in Germany. When things turned sour at Borussia Monchengladbach in 2022, he left his role as director of sport, citing mental health issues. By the end of the year, however, he had turned up at unpopular RB Leipzig, which left fans of his former side outraged.
A celebrated figure during his time at Gladbach, he ultimately left the squad in a terrible state when he departed, with several star players on expiring contracts which has seen them struggle in recent seasons.
READ: Bayern are desperate! Tuchel turns to ex-Arsenal defender to solve crisis
A few weeks ago, he was sacked by RB Leipzig with the club stating that a "lack of commitment" was the reason behind the decision. This came mere days after a BILD report claimed that Eberl, who resides in Munich, has designs on joining Bayern and never settled in Leipzig.
Indeed, 90min reports that Bayern are confident of landing Eberl - and in Germany, the expectation is that this will indeed happen - but Liverpool have nevertheless tested the waters and the 50-year-old is "welcoming interest from across Europe."
