Liverpool sporting director Julian Ward will step down from his role after just one season in charge.
Ward, who had previously been deputy to the hugely successful Michael Edwards at Anfield, took the top job at the club after Edwards left in the summer.
But he is said to want to take a break from football, something which has left Reds chiefs disappointed.
Ward has been at Anfield for 10 years in a variety of roles, working closely alongside Edwards as the Reds amassed a squad which won the Champions League in 2019 and the Premier League in 2020.
The likes of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker were all signed under Edwards' watch, and it was hoped that Ward would be able to carry on his level of success in both the transfer market and on the pitch.
Liverpool paid a potential club record fee to sign Darwin Nunez from Benfica in the summer, as well as bringing in youngsters Fabio Carvalho from Fulham and Calvin Ramsay from Aberdeen.
Ward was also believed to have had a key role in the signing of Luis Diaz from Porto last January.
The news comes amid ongoing uncertainty at Anfield following the decision by owners Fenway Sports Group to sell all or part of the club.
FSG have been in place on Merseyside for 12 years, and could stand to make as much as £3billion for the Reds having bought them for £300m in 2010.
They are open to both a full or partial sale of the club, with the latter also likely to generate huge income for both FSG and the Reds.
FSG chairman Tom Werner recently admitted that they were not in a hurry to sell the club, adding that everything was on the table.
"We’re exploring a sale, but there’s no urgency, no time frame for us," Werner said.
"As far as I’m concerned, it’s business as usual. One outcome could be our continued stewardship for quite a while.”
Reds boss Jurgen Klopp has welcomed the possibility of fresh investment, also insisting that it remains business as usual for the Reds on and off the pitch.
"Everyone said he [Liverpool owner John W.Henry] wants to sell the club, what I read is we're looking for investors. That makes sense, I like that!" he said after Liverpool's recent Carabao Cup victory over Derby County.
"For me, it means nothing. Whatever happens - I really like how I work together with our owners - but if that would change, I'm committed to the club.
"As far as I know, we're looking for investors and I thought that makes sense. For me, while this process is happening, it's important that we just keep going and planning."
