Phillips: Liverpool hit by ‘critical’ Edwards blow amid huge-money Kieran Maguire reveal
Kevin Phillips has insisted Liverpool will struggle to replace sporting director Michael Edwards amid his plans to quit.
The former Sunderland striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed the Merseyside club must select a worthy replacement for the “highly-valued” transfer expert.
A Liverpool source has told Football Insider (27th October) that Edwards is planning to leave Anfield when his contract expires at the end of the season.
Edwards joined Liverpool as head of analytics in 2011 and was made sporting director in 2016.
As per this site’s finance guru Kieran Maguire, Manchester United have spent £910million more than Liverpool on transfers and wages in the last decade.
This highlights the magnitude of the job Edwards has done, with stars like Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, and Alisson Becker among his success stories.
Phillips suggested it will be “tough” for Liverpool to find a replacement for the “crucial” backroom figure.
“It’s always a blow when you’ve made good, successful signings,” he told Football Insider.
“It’s a natural cycle, and Liverpool need to recruit someone equally as good, if not better than him.
“People like Edwards may be hard to come by, and it’s always tough when you lose a highly-valued member of staff – especially in that role.
“He’s one of the most critical staff members at the football club – he has to get the right players through the door, and he has a history of doing just that.”
Liverpool added just one senior signing this summer, swooping for Ibrahima Konate from RB Leipzig.
The Reds sit second in the Premier League table, just one point adrift of leaders Chelsea.
In other news, pundit predicts Liverpool stars “fuming” after “insane” update from Anfield source.