Liverpool clause emerges as transfer chief Julian Ward eyed for next job
Julian Ward has decided to leave Liverpool at the end of the season and the Reds’ outgoing transfer boss has been linked with a move to Ajax, who have an advantage over Premier League clubs
Ajax have an advantage in securing the services of Julian Ward when he leaves Liverpool this summer as the Reds prevent him from joining another English club so soon, it has been claimed.
The Anfield transfer boss, who succeeded the highly-rated Michael Edwards as Liverpool’s sporting director less than a year ago, is being eyed by Ajax to fill his vacant role. Since the Dutch giants parted ways with their sporting director Marc Overmars last February – after it was revealed he had been sending inappropriate messages to female colleagues – the big shots at the Johan Cruyff Arena have deployed a combination of technical director Gerry Hamstra and advisers from management Klaas-Jan Huntelaar to fill the gap.
However, now De Telegraaf report that Ajax are keen to find a new sporting director after a difficult year since Overmars’ departure, soon followed by manager Erik ten Hag who joined Manchester United. It is claimed that not only is Ward shortlisted for the Eredivisie champions, but a clause in his contract with Liverpool gives Ajax a boost.
The “non-compete clause” does not apply to Ajax as they play their football predominantly in the Netherlands, as opposed to the Premier League or even one of the supposed top five divisions in Europe. It added that “exploratory talks” have been held between the two parties, with Ajax hoping they can reach an agreement.
Ward’s decision to leave Liverpool shocked even the club’s biggest names, namely Jurgen Klopp. “It was a surprise when Julian told me, but we [will] will work together normally until his departure,” the Reds boss told Goal shortly after the announcement in December.
“Julian is 100 per cent committed and everything is fine. We’ve never had a problem and we won’t have any problems so everything is fine. He told me after the Southampton game [on November 12] and it was a surprise at that moment. It’s his choice and that’s okay. It will have no impact for that period, not at all.”
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With Liverpool yet to confirm a succession plan, club legend Jamie Carragher has delivered a devastating verdict on his former side’s plight for the club,” the ex-Reds defender wrote in his column for the Telegraph.
“We can now see the impact of recent decisions on the pitch because, despite a payroll of over £300m a year, there are too few Liverpool players at that peak age of 25-28. Even fewer can carry the team when the best players such [Virgil] Van Dijk, [Mohamed] Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold are out of shape or if the injury list is as long as it is.
“After all these years of FSG [Fenway Sports Group] Fending off interest in players from La Liga giants, there isn’t a single player in Liverpool’s squad in their current form who would be likely to receive an offer from a club of similar standing.”