Sources: Significant Liverpool director of football update after 'shock' move
Liverpool do not have a new director of football lined up after being taken aback by the resignation of Julian Ward last month, sources have told Football Insider.
The Merseysiders have begun the process of finding a successor to Ward, who announced he will leave the club at the end of the season.
Liverpool have been linked with senior recruitment chiefs across Europe in recent weeks, but it is understood that no appointment is close at this stage.
They have been linked with former Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal recruitment chief Sven Mislintat, but are not in talks with him.
Liverpool have had a reputation for being one step ahead of many of their rivals, especially in the transfer market, during a period of great success in the Jurgen Klopp era.
But the resignation of Ward is said to have "shocked" club owners Fenway Sports Group, one well-placed source told Football Insider, and no succession plan is in place.
Ward had replaced Michael Edwards after working his way through the ranks at Anfield, and now the club are searching for their third sporting director in three years.
The news has dismayed many Liverpool supporters at a time of growing uncertainty at the club which has been a byword for stability in recent years.
His former close ally Edwards has been targeted by Man United as they look to overhaul their own recruitment set-up.
Football Insider broke the news on on 1 October that United are confident of beating Chelsea to the appointment of Edwards.
The latest is the United are still well placed to secure an agreement with the former Liverpool transfer guru, with talks progressing after they submitted what is believed to be a "hugely attractive offer" to him.
The deal is believed to be unrelated to a takeover of the Premier League giants after the Glazer family put the club up for sale last month.
Ward is not the only prominent figure behind the scenes at Anfield moving on, with club research director Ian Graham also resigning and seeing out his one-season notice period.