Jurgen Klopp is leaving Liverpool, and Michael Edwards is returning to Liverpool. It is clear to everyone that after nine beautiful years with the German tactician at the helm, a major reconstruction is required. Hence Edwards, a former director who had great merit in the selection of Klopp’s Liverpool, is back, to provide his successor with conditions for similar success. And who will be Klopp’s successor? That is not yet known, although it is quite clear that the Reds would prefer to see Xabi Alonso in that role, but they are facing a tough battle with Bayern Munich for their man. Sporting’s Ruben Amorim also has good results behind him, and the media also mentions Roberto De Zerbi from Brighton, and to a lesser extent Julian Nagelsmann.BREAKING: Michael Edwards will return to Liverpool and will lead the club’s restructure after an agreement with FSG was made yesterday. It’s believed, Richard Hughes will be joining as sporting director 🤝 pic.twitter.com/kJizRrjIqp— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) March 12, 2024 Whoever comes in will need quality players to wrestle with Manchester City, Arsenal and the rest of the competition in the Premier League. Klopp’s players are slowly coming off the big stage. Roberto Firmino, Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Sadio Mane have already left… There is speculation that Mohamed Salah could follow them. The change of generations is, of course, well underway, but the Reds wanted to have a reliable person to oversee the whole process after Klopp’s departure. It was Edwards who once brought Salah, Alisson and Virgil van Dijk to Anfield.His grandfather was a Black Star – and he’s all RedThis time, however, he will not be the sports director but will have a more significant function at a higher level. In the sporting director’s chair, he will probably be replaced by Richard Hughes, who is currently employed at Bournemouth. The two have been good friends since their time at Portsmouth, when Edwards was just starting out in the football business and worked as an analyst, while Hughes was still an active player. Hughes grew up in Italy, speaks several languages and is said to know “everyone in football”. He also had business relations with Edwards when Dominic Solanke and Jordon Ibe went from Liverpool to Bournemouth, all together for some 40,000,000 euros.Premier League title race will go down to the wireEdwards had to be persuaded by Liverpool owners for months to come back to the club he left just two years ago. Even Newcastle contacted him when Dan Ashworth announced his intention to leave for Manchester United, but it soon became clear that Edwards was not going to come back as the sports director anymore, so the Reds persuaded him to take a higher role and bring in his former pal to do the day-to-day job with players.UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE1/8 finals – second legTuesdayBayern – Lazio 3-0 (2-0)/Kane 38, 66, Muller 45+2/Bayern win 3-1 on aggregateReal Sociedad – Paris Saint-Germain 1-2 (0-1)/Merino 89 – Mbappe 15, 56/Paris Saint-Germain win 4-1 on aggregateWednesdayReal Madrid – RB Leipzig 1-1 (0-0)/Vinicius 65 – Orban 68/Real Madrid win 2-1 on aggregateMan.City – Copenhagen 3-1 (2-1)/Akanji 5, Alvarez 9, Haaland 45+3 – Elyounoussi 29/Manchester City win 6-2 on aggregateTuesday the 12th23:00: (1.77) Barcelona (3.60) Napoli (4.80) /first leg 1-1/23:00: (1.28) Arsenal (5.70) Porto (10.5) /first leg 0-1/Wednesday the 13th23:00: (3.05) Atl.Madrid (3.30) Inter (2.55) /first leg 0-1/23:00: (2.15) Dortmund (3.50) PSV (3.30) / first leg 1-1/***odds are subject to change***
