Liverpool confirm appointment of key new staff member

Liverpool have confirmed the appointment of new head of loan management Gary Probert, who leaves a senior role at Ipswich to join the Reds.

Probert arrives at Liverpool from Ipswich, where he has acted as director of football operations for four years, overseeing the club’s recruitment, academy, analysis and loans.

In the past, he has also served as academy manager at Bristol City and youth development manager at Forest Green Rovers.

His new role is focused on loans and is an area of increasing importance to Liverpool, with 11 players currently out on loan from the club.

Probert is coming in to replace Matt Newberry, who has been promoted to director of global talent for the Reds.

The job of loans manager is one that has previously provided plenty of upward mobility for those taking up the role, with former occupant Julian Ward going on to become director of football before starting his current job alongside Michael Edwards for FSG.

The Training Ground Guru reported that a club insider said Probert’s “blend of operational experience and player development expertise made him the stand-out candidate” for a role that is crucial to Liverpool’s long-term strategy.

Part of Probert’s job will be to find suitable clubs for the players to maximise their development away from Liverpool, so they can be ready to either play for Arne Slot or be moved on for a good price.

This summer alone, Liverpool made over £100 million as they sold six players who had played for the academy:

• Jarell Quansah – £35m – Bayer Leverkusen
• Caoimhin Kelleher – £18m – Brentford
• Tyler Morton – £15m – Lyon
• Trent Alexander-Arnold – £8.4m – Real Madrid
• Nat Phillips – £3m – West Brom
• Ben Doak – £25m – Bournemouth

Probert’s appointment comes as part of an upheaval at the club, with Rob Page and Simon Wiles becoming under-21s and under-18s coaches respectively.

The new head of loan management should also work closely with Luiz Fernando Iubel, the Reds’ new individual development lead coach, as they decide which youngsters are ready for the first team.

Probert has an important job, because getting a loan club wrong can be detrimental to a young player’s career.

Alternatively, a successful spell can set them up for success – just look at Harvey Elliott‘s time at Blackburn, for example.