Liverpool are reportedly hopeful of announcing Michael Edwards's sensational return to the club next week.
The 44-year-old stepped down from his Anfield post in 2022 after 11 successful years on Merseyside, during which time he served as technical director and sporting director under Jurgen Klopp.
As sporting director, Edwards oversaw the arrivals of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker - three players who have gone on to achieve legendary status in Liverpool colours - among others such as Fabinho, Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Thiago Alcantara.
The Englishman, who also served as Liverpool's head of methodology and chief analyst, reportedly turned down the chance to return to the club at the end of January, while he has also rebuffed an approach from Chelsea to become their football CEO.
However, Edwards has now seemingly had a change of heart following another round of talks with the Reds, and according to Sky Sports News, the club are on the cusp of re-hiring him.
© Reuters
The former Tottenham Hotspur and Portsmouth analyst will not return to his former role of sporting director and instead will "lead the restructure" of Liverpool during a significant summer of change off the field.
Edwards's "prominent" position within Fenway Sports Group will reportedly see the 44-year-old take charge of football operations at Anfield, and his arm was twisted by a "compelling" pitch by John W Henry and Mike Gordon.
There are still a couple of details to be finalised, but Liverpool are optimistic that Edwards will be officially back at Anfield next week, despite significant interest from elsewhere.
Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid reportedly both enquired about Edwards's availability as a sporting director, but they were quickly shot down by the 44-year-old, who has no intention of reverting to that role.
Furthermore, Manchester United apparently did not firm up their interest in the Southampton-born transfer guru and are instead set to hire Dan Ashworth from Newcastle United as their new sporting director.
© Reuters
As well as re-hiring Edwards, Liverpool are expected to complete the appointment of Richard Hughes to the sporting director's job following confirmation of the 44-year-old's exit from Bournemouth last week.
Hughes, a former Scotland international, will succeed Jorg Schmadtke, who only spent half a season in the Liverpool gig before leaving his position at the end of the January transfer window.
In between Edwards's exit and Schmadtke's appointment, Julian Ward was promoted to sporting director for the 2022-23 season, but he surprisingly stood down from his role after just one year.
Once their upstairs reshuffle is finalised, Liverpool will ramp up their search for a new manager to replace Klopp, who informed the owners in November of his plans to step down before announcing his decision publicly two months later.
The Reds headline Sunday's Premier League action with a tantalising clash against title rivals Manchester City, where they need to win to return to the top of the table above new leaders Arsenal.
Ben Knapton
