Michael Edwards is to become Liverpool’s first ever sporting director with his promotion set to be confirmed by Fenway Sports Group (FSG), the club’s owners, imminently.
In what amounts to a significant vote of confidence in Edwards and the work he has done as technical director, FSG have decided to increase both the scope and seniority of his role as part of a review of football operations and a restructuring necessitated by the planned departure of chief executive Ian Ayre at the end of this season.
Edwards, 37, has been the subject of external criticism, but FSG’s belief in his methods has never wavered and their faith has been increasingly repaid over the last 12 months with a number of the signings he presided over coming to the fore under the management of Jurgen Klopp.
Among those recruited in keeping with the transfer strategy that Edwards has implemented have been Roberto Firmino, Divock Origi, Emre Can and Sadio Mane. The former head of performance analysis at Tottenham Hotspur also oversaw Liverpool’s outgoing transfers during the summer when they sold Christian Benteke for £30m and Joe Allen and Jordon Ibe for a combined total of £26m.
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A significant factor in Edwards’ promotion is the working relationship he has established with Klopp, who had previously worked under a sporting director at Borussia Dortmund. Edwards, a graduate of Sheffield University, also has a strong rapport with Mike Gordon, the president of FSG who is heavily involved in the day-to-day running of the club.
While critics questioned the strength of the playing squad that Klopp inherited upon succeeding Brendan Rodgers in October last year, the Liverpool manager never doubted that there was substantial scope for improvement; faith that does not appear to have been misplaced given the strong start to the season that Liverpool have made.
Klopp is understood to be fully supportive of Edwards’ ascent and the pair will continue to work together on transfers following a successful summer in which Liverpool made a profit on player trading and improved the squad at their manager’s disposal.
