Transfer guru Edwards in talks over Liverpool return – sources

Michael Edwards is in renewed talks with Liverpool's American owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) over a return to Anfield as head of the club's football operations, sources have told ESPN.

Edwards, the man credited with overhauling Liverpool's recruitment strategy and identifying Jurgen Klopp as manager in 2015, has left his role as the club's sporting director in 2022 to pursue other opportunities.

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But FSG have since struggled to replace the 44-year-old, with Julian Ward and Jorg Schmadtke serving as sporting director for less than 12 months after Edwards left.

Sources have told ESPN that FSG want Edwards to lead a new football setup at Anfield, with Bournemouth technical director Richard Hughes lined up to fill the vacant sporting director role at Liverpool at the end of the season.

Edwards has made it clear that he has no desire to return to football in his previous role, instead preferring to take a more senior management role should he decide to return to the game.

Sources said Edwards had been offered opportunities by Chelsea and Manchester United since leaving Liverpool, but he rejected those advances in order to wait for the right opportunity.

Liverpool contacted Edwards earlier this year but initial discussions were unsuccessful, but the club came back with a new offer and sources said Edwards was interested in the opportunity but had not yet made a decision final.

With Klopp announcing in January that he would step down as manager at the end of the season, Liverpool face their most important summer since the German arrived at the club in 2015.

With rival clubs Bayern Munich and Barcelona already looking for a new manager and uncertainty surrounding managerial positions at United, Chelsea and Newcastle, FSG believes Edwards' expertise will give them the better chance of making the right appointment to succeed Klopp.