Liverpool to promote Michael Edwards to role of sporting director in hierarchy reshuffle

Liverpool technical director Michael Edwards is set to be announced as the club’s new sporting director as the Reds restructure their hierarchy ahead of chief executive Ian Ayre’s departure next summer.

Edwards has played a key role in the club’s transfers since his arrival on Merseyside in 2011, and has taken up a more focal position under Fenway Sports Group in recent years.

Part of the Reds’ transfer committee, Edwards’ role has largely come in data analysis, and he will now oversee all incomings and outgoings at Anfield, from the first team to the academy.

That is according to widespread reports on Thursday night, with the club believed to be set to announce the 37-year-old’s promotion in the coming days.

This comes following the news of Ayre’s impending departure, with the Reds CEO set to leave on the expiry of his contract next summer.

Edwards’ role is one earmarked by FSG on their arrival at the club, but former manager Brendan Rodgers insisted he would not work under a sporting director or director of football.

This brought about the more collegiate approach of the transfer committee, but with Klopp working under a sporting director at Borussia Dortmund, the German is accustomed to Liverpool’s new setup.

Reports write that Klopp is “understood to be fully supportive” of the promotion, and the Liverpool Echo write that Klopp “believes Edwards has both the knowledge and the expertise to help him ensure Liverpool build on their flying start to the season.”

Klopp will, however, retain the final say on any incoming or outgoing at the club; with the recent summer’s excellent business a testament to his eye in the market.

Edwards will be the club’s first sporting director since the departure of Damien Comolli in 2012.

Comolli was instrumental in the signings of Luis Suarez, Jordan Henderson and Craig Bellamy, but drew significant criticism for his role in the arrivals of Andy Carroll, Stewart Downing and Charlie Adam, among others.

With Edwards working closely with Klopp, FSG will be hoping for a higher success rate in the transfer market moving forward.