Klopp ‘gutted’ as Liverpool source drops Edwards exit update – pundit
Alex McLeish has insisted the departure of Michael Edwards will be a shattering blow for Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.
The former Scotland manager, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed the sporting director and manager would have an excellent working relationship and understanding after six years together at Anfield.
As revealed by Football Insider on Wednesday (27th October), Edwards is planning to leave the club at the end of the season, although he does not have a new job lined up.
Edward’s contract at Anfield expires next summer.
A Liverpool source told this site there has been no agreement on a new deal and the transfer guru is seeking a new challenge after a decade on Merseyside.
As such, McLeish admitted Klopp would lament losing a close ally after their success together.
McLeish told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “It’s such a shame when somebody leaves the system. They’ve got a good system working there.
“I would expect the top managers have a good close relationship with these sporting directors.
“They go directly to the manager and say: ‘What do you think of this list of players that I have?’ Klopp will probably know 99 per cent of them.
“The difference is the manager doesn’t have to spend time and energy when he is so tied in with the players and everything else that goes with the top team in your club.
“It’s different for managers now. When I was head coach or manager, I went to see as many players myself with my own eyes. I always trusted my own judgement.”
Finance guru Kieran Maguire has told Football Insider that Edwards is a “brilliant” operator who has been “phenomenal” during his spell in charge of transfers.
Edwards took on his current role in November 2016, a year after Klopp’s arrival.
He played a key role in Liverpool signing the likes of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Sadio Mane.
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