Sources: Top two Liverpool sporting director contenders named – ‘he’s in every meeting’
Liverpool have yet to name a replacement for departing sporting director Julian Ward as he prepares to leave the post at the end of the season.
But preparations are being made behind the scenes for a new era of transfers at Anfield as the club search for their third recruitment chief in three years.
Sources have told Football Insider that no decision has yet been made on the identity of the successor to Ward, a key figure in the headline January signing of Cody Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven.
But there are clues behind the scenes at the 19-times league winners as the club weigh up another internal appointment or an ‘outsider’ who can work harmoniously with Jurgen Klopp, the recruitment team and Boston-based owners Fenway Sports Group.
Sources have said that the club’s longstanding head of recruitment Dave Fallows is currently “in every meeting” and “involved in every decision”.
That is a key change of role for Fallows, who, along with chief scout Barry Hunter, has long been central to identifying and tracking potential signings, and persuading them to join.
It is sign the former Man City talent spotter is being lined up by the Liverpool hierarchy to take over from Ward or, at least, is considered a strong candidate to do so.
Another major contender is the former Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal chief scout Sven Mislintat.
The 50-year-old is currently taking a break from football after leaving his previous role as Stuttgart sporting director in November.
He has close ties to Klopp after they worked so well together during a golden era at Dortmund and the two are believed to still be in contact.
It is believed that Klopp is keen to choose a replacement rather than be given one by Anfield owners Fenway Sports Group.
Klopp has had huge success during his managerial career working with sporting directors for extended period – most notably Michael Edwards at Liverpool and Michael Zorc at Borussia Dortmund.
Ward had replaced Edwards after working his way through the ranks at Anfield, and now the club are searching for their third sporting director in three years.
In other news, Abramovich cited as Liverpool work on ‘mega’ deal – ‘I’m sure they’ll come to an agreement’.