Liverpool sporting director update as two top contenders named

Liverpool are yet to name a replacement for outgoing sporting director Julian Ward, who is preparing 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 searches for their third recruiting chief in three years.

Sources have told Football Insider that no decision has yet been made on the identity of Ward’s successor, a key figure in the headline January signing of PSV Eindhoven’s Cody Gakpo.

Behind the scenes, however, there are hints of the 19-time league winners as the club weigh another internal appointment or an “outsider” who can work in harmony with Jurgen Klopp, the recruitment team and Boston-based owners Fenway Sports Group.

Sources have said that the club’s longtime head of recruitment, Dave Fallows, is currently “involved in every meeting” and “involved in every decision”.

This marks a major role change for Fallows, who, along with chief scout Barry Hunter, has long played a central role in identifying and tracking potential signings and persuading them to join.

It’s a sign that the former Man City scout is being set up by the Liverpool hierarchy to take over Ward, or at least seen as a strong candidate to do so.

Another big contender is former Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal chief scout Sven Mislintat.

The 50-year-old is currently on a break from football, having resigned from his previous position as Stuttgart’s sporting director in November.

He has close ties to Klopp having worked so well together during a golden era at Dortmund and the two are believed to still be in touch.

Klopp is believed to be keen on choosing a replacement rather than receiving one from Anfield owners Fenway Sports Group.

Klopp had great success working with sporting directors throughout his managerial career – 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 looking for their third sporting director in three years.

In other news, Abramovich quoted as Liverpool working on a “mega” deal – “I’m sure they will come to an agreement”.