Latest Liverpool news as Michael Edwards has reportedly made his stance on a Liverpool return clear, while Jörg Schmadtke admits he was wrong about a transfer.
With Liverpool through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, hopes of a quadruple remain for Jürgen Klopp before he departs in the summer. Meanwhile, off the pitch, the search for his successor and a new sporting director continues. Here is your latest round-up of Liverpool news.
Edwards wants more control before considering return
Michael Edwards wants more control over football operations if he is to make a surprise return to Liverpool, according to reports. FSG is preparing a second approach to the former sporting director as they look to secure a successor to Jörg Schmadtke (as per the ECHO).
Liverpool has already been turned down by Edwards once over a possible return, having left back in 2022. He remains highly regarded at Anfield though, and looks to be top of the list to take on the vacant sporting director role.
According to The Telegraph, Liverpool could try and convince Edwards by changing the parameters of the role after Jürgen Klopp’s departure. The Reds boss’s influence is said to have grown during Edwards’ spell, ensuring he became the most powerful voice at the club.
Getting back some of that power is now seen as a must for Edwards to keep a dialogue open with Liverpool. Some at Anfield are said to already believe it is a lost cause, with Edwards having insisted his career as a sporting director ended when he left Liverpool.
Schmadtke makes Szoboszlai admission
Jörg Schmadtke has admitted he was wrong about the signing of Dominik Szoboszlai. Liverpool’s former sporting director initially believed the club was overpaying for the midfielder.
Schmadtke departed Liverpool following the January transfer window, having been in place since last summer. The German helped to bring Szoboszlai, Wataru Endō and Ryan Gravenberch to the club, with Alexis Mac Allister’s signing having been finalized by his predecessor Julian Ward.
Speaking about his time at Liverpool to Zeit Online, Schmadtke has admitted he had doubts about the fee the Reds parted with to sign Szoboszlai. The Hungarian was secured thanks to a $75m (£60m/€70m) release clause in his contract at RB Leipzig, and has since gone on to impress in a red shirt.
“Now in Liverpool there was someone who cost €70m, Szoboszlai, who we brought from Leipzig,” Schmadtke said. “Then I said: It’s too expensive. From today’s perspective, that was a misjudgment on my part. The boy was an important Liverpool player from day one. He performed better than I would have expected him to.”
