footballtopstar

Tag: Michael Edwards

  • The 23-year-old who looked up to Gerrard as a child may cost Liverpool more than £100 million, according to a report.

    The 23-year-old who looked up to Gerrard as a child may cost Liverpool more than £100 million, according to a report.

    Anthony Gordon

    Over the weekend, a pretty surprising transfer speculation involving Liverpool surfaced.

    The Daily Star (via Daily Express) revealed on Sunday that the Reds are considering making a “surprise move” for Anthony Gordon, who was just crowned Newcastle’s Player of the Season and is valued at St. James’ Park at over £100 million.

    The 23-year-old is rumoured to have drawn attention at Anfield, where LFC executives are considering him as a possible target for this summer’s transfer window—the first one to happen under sporting director Richard Hughes’ direction.

    Prior to being released and joining Everton, where he advanced through the youth systems and into the first team before a £45 million move to Newcastle in January 2023, Gordon was actually signed by Liverpool as a young player.

    The winger, who named Steven Gerrard his boyhood football idol, has tallied double figures in goals and assists in the Premier League this year. He must have done a lot well to be named the team’s top player ahead of Alexander Isak, who can score twenty goals.

    One of those attackers might very well be sold this summer, as the Magpies are supposedly under pressure to offload important assets in order to abide by Financial Fair Play rules.

    We’d be shocked if the Reds signed Gordon this summer, though, given the number of football players who have represented both of Merseyside’s top teams over the years (as our own Peter Kenny Jones thoroughly examined in his outstanding book Crossing the Park: The Men Who Dared to Play for Both Liverpool & Everton).

    Even with his excellent season, it would be hard to justify paying a nine-figure transfer fee when Hughes and Michael Edwards could undoubtedly find an attacker of comparable calibre for less money. We wouldn’t be likely to take this specific rumour very seriously.

    More news…..

    Three will arrive at Anfield when Liverpool’s Arne Slot revolution begins.

    With their methodical acquisition of Arne Slot from Feyenoord, Liverpool has once again set the standard. The Reds wasted no time in guaranteeing

    With their methodical acquisition of Arne Slot from Feyenoord, Liverpool has once again set the standard. The Reds wasted no time in guaranteeing that there will be some continuity following Jurgen Klopp’s final departure from Anfield.

    The first team squad can rest easy knowing that a succession plan is in place, even though they will need to adjust to a new working environment and possibly a different management style.

    Nothing is worse for a worker in any organisation than to believe that their employer—a venerable football team in this case—is not giving them enough guidance.

    Three more will follow Arne Slot at Liverpool.

    With the exception of the Super League fiasco, FSG has been steadfast in their support of its management and open about their goals ever since taking over the team.

    The Reds are serious about their game, as seen by Slot’s approaching arrival. No more of those “will they, won’t they” types of situations that seem to be eating up far too much time at rival Manchester United.

    The players for Liverpool will know exactly what to expect when they return for preseason when the season ends.

    After a few weeks of work, it will be clear whether some of Klopp’s most devoted players can handle Slot’s style of play.

    If nothing else, the manager will feel secure in the knowledge that he is surrounded by capable individuals.

    This is due to the fact that sources have informed Football Insider that analyst Etienne Reijnen, head of performance Ruben Peeters, and assistant manager Sipke Hulshoff of Feyenoord have all decided to follow Slot to Liverpool.

    If nothing else, the manager will feel secure in the knowledge that he is surrounded by capable individuals.

    This is due to the fact that sources have informed Football Insider that analyst Etienne Reijnen, head of performance Ruben Peeters, and assistant manager Sipke Hulshoff of Feyenoord have all decided to follow Slot to Liverpool

  • Richard Hughes to make the incredible first signing of a talent who eluded Michael Edwards twice at Liverpool.

    Richard Hughes to make the incredible first signing of a talent who eluded Michael Edwards twice at Liverpool.

    Richard Hughes might be able to assist Liverpool in signing a Bournemouth player that Michael Edwards twice failed to sign, and Hughes’ presence would make sense considering the departure of a star player for Jurgen Klopp.

    An attempt by FSG, the owners of Liverpool, to rehire Michael Edwards earlier in March was successful. Between 2011 and 22, Edwards did amazing things for Liverpool, and he was hailed as the man who set the pieces in place so that the Reds could succeed under Jurgen Klopp.

    Edwards is back at FSG serving as the group CEO of Football. Richard Hughes will take over as sporting director at Anfield, reporting directly to Edwards, replacing Jorg Schmadtke. Hughes agreed to join Liverpool, but he left the Cherries earlier in March.

    On June 1, the 44-year-old will begin working for Liverpool. However, the Liverpool Echo claims that we may already be aware of his first signing.

    Lloyd Kelly, a defender for Bournemouth, is also set to depart the Cherries concurrently with Hughes’ arrival at the Reds.

    When his contract expires at the end of the current campaign, the versatile 25-year-old left-footer is expected to become a free agent. Bournemouth is still hopeful that they can work out an extension, but there’s no guarantee Kelly will agree to new conditions.

    Kelly, who can play centre back or left back with equal comfort, is reportedly of interest to AC Milan. Following Bournemouth’s rejection of a £20 million bid for the midfielder last summer, Tottenham has kept an eye on the youngster.

    Kelly in, Matip out?

    But Liverpool is also impressed with Kelly, and since Joel Matip is likely to be let go after his contract expires, adding Kelly makes sense.

    Matip, 32, is out of contract this summer and is not likely to receive a new contract offer from FSG because he recently had ACL surgery.

    Lloyd Kelly

    Kelly is portrayed by The Liverpool Echo as Hughes’ possible first Merseyside acquisition. Furthermore, back in 2019, Hughes was the one who annoyed Liverpool by enticing Kelly to Bournemouth.

    Kelly was on the roster of Bristol City when Liverpool, then under the direction of Michael Edwards, made an inquiry about signing him.

    But Hughes and Bournemouth outperformed the Reds, completing Kelly’s £13 million signing.

    Paul Joyce of the Times claims that after Hughes’ coup, Edwards called to congratulate his rival.

    Joyce writes, “To Liverpool’s dismay, Hughes was successful in convincing defender Lloyd Kelly to turn down Merseyside’s offer and move to Bournemouth in May 2019 for £13 million.”

    “That transaction led to a reluctant, congrats phone call from Michael Edwards, Liverpool’s sporting director at the time, to Hughes.”

    Hughes’ next career move has now been made possible by Edwards’ appointment as chief executive of football at Liverpool’s owner, Fenway Sports Group.

    Kelly and Liverpool, third times lucky?
    A year later, The Liverpool Echo also draws attention to another chance that Edwards and the Reds failed to seize.

    Kelly was relegated to the Championship in his debut season as a member of Bournemouth. Liverpool was among the teams that made rapid inquiries about the player.

    Kelly continued to evade Liverpool at the moment, but Klopp was still searching for a left-sided defender. Rather, Kostas Tsimikas, a Greek left-back, signed for £11.75 million from Olympiacos.

    In the present day, the Echo is promoting the notion that Liverpool has at last acquired Kelly. The fact that there will be no transfer fees to pay now that he is available makes the move even more alluring.

    With Edwards leading the team and Hughes pulling the strings—both of whom are obviously huge supporters of Kelly—a long-awaited move to Anfield may finally be imminent.