Returning to Liverpool FC as “head of football,” Michael Edwards AGREES

Michael Edwards, the former sports director, has consented to rejoin Liverpool FC as head of football operations.

Merseyside reporters, including Paul Joyce of the Times, confirmed the news, which surfaced on Tuesday morning following reports over the weekend suggesting that a deal was close.

Owners Fenway Sports Group has pulled off a significant coup by convincing 44-year-old Edwards to return to Anfield two years after he left the team.

As the club’s sporting director, Edwards oversaw the acquisition of players like Mohamed Salah, Alisson, Fabinho, Sadio Mane, and Virgil van Dijk, all of whom had a significant impact on the club’s transition.

Additionally, he successfully negotiated high exit fees for players, most notably the £142 million deal that saw Philippe Coutinho depart to Barcelona.

Richard Hughes, who is expected to join the team from Bournemouth, will now work beneath him as sporting director following his return.

After serving as Bournemouth’s technical director for over ten years, Hughes revealed his impending resignation earlier in March.

Since leaving Liverpool in the summer of 2022, Edwards has declined offers from Man United and Chelsea. It is widely believed that part of the reason for his departure was because manager Jurgen Klopp was granted more authority over contracts and trades.

Since Klopp is expected to leave the team in three months, Edwards will now be in charge of selecting the German’s replacement, with Xabi Alonso thought to be the front-runner.

In the eyes of supporters, Liverpool can start a new chapter after Klopp with the triad of Edwards, Hughes, and Alonso.

“Luring Edwards back to Liverpool is a coup for FSG, and ends a prolonged period of negotiation led by John W. Henry and Michael Gordon,” explains Chris Bascombe of the Telegraph.

“Gordon, another crucial player going forward who is still in charge of club strategy, was determined to bring Edwards back and thought it was extremely important given the enormous hole that Klopp is leaving behind.”

It is rumoured that FSG met with Edwards multiple times to try to convince him to come back to Anfield, and they should be commended for making sure this happened.

It is probable that Edwards will assume certain responsibilities from FSG president Mike Gordon and current CEO Billy Hogan, who have both recently stated that changes are coming to their positions within the company.

Since the contracts of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, and Salah expire in the summer of 2025, extending them will be Edwards’ first priority in the first few months of his comeback.

More news…..

Liverpool sends scouts to see the £60 million midfield player against Arsenal.

According to sources, Liverpool dispatched scouts to study Alan Varela, a £60 million transfer target, during Porto’s Champions League victory over Arsenal last week.

Since moving from Boca Juniors in his home Argentina to Portuguese club Porto in August, the 22-year-old defensive midfielder has drawn attention.

Leading teams are allegedly keeping an eye on Varela’s status in anticipation of a potential transfer at the end of the current campaign.

Seven of the Argentine’s twenty-eight outings for Porto have come in the Champions League.

Porto qualified for the round of sixteen after finishing second behind Barcelona thanks to his assistance in winning four of their six group games.

Prior to their second meeting at the Emirates on March 12, Porto leads Arsenal 1-0 from the first leg. A quarterfinal spot is up for grabs.

“We achieved a fantastic outcome,” Pepe declared. We need to be even more concentrated than we were today because it will be even harder in London. We must be faultless.

Galeno’s goal was crucial to our hopes of making it to the quarterfinals. We were aware that the game would be difficult.

“We put on a great show and won with a great goal, but Arsenal has a lot of quality.”