Former Liverpool sporting director Michael Edwards is reportedly of interest to arch rivals Manchester United - as well as Chelsea.
Edwards will leave his post at Anfield this summer after more than a decade at the club. He has been replaced by Julian Ward, who has already worked wonders in the transfer market with some of the deals he has completed including Darwin Nunez.
A report earlier on Wednesday suggested Edwards had rejected an approach from Chelsea. And, now according to the Mail Online, that as well as Chelsea, United are interested in his services.
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The Red Devils are said to be looking to revamp their recruitment set-up while the Blues are going through a complete restructure following the sale of the club to a consortium led by American investor Todd Boehly.
And the report claims that Edwards’ success at Liverpool has led to both United and Chelsea considering making a move for the 42-year-old. It goes on to add that it remains to be seen whether he would consider the offers, in particular the one from Old Trafford, given his history.
Edwards, who according to the report also had interest from Ajax, has become a renowned transfer guru at Anfield for his dealings with both incoming players and sales. Some of his notable negotiations involved the deals to bring in Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson, Fabinho and Mohamed Salah. Edwards was also the chief negotiator with Barcelona that saw Liverpool receive £142m for Philippe Coutinho in 2018.
Having joined the Reds from Tottenham Hotspur in 2011, Edwards was appointed sporting director in November 2016. But it was confirmed in November last year that he would be leaving the club this summer, to be replaced by Ward.
At the time, Edwards posted an open letter to Liverpool fans explaining his decision to call time on a near-11-year stint on Merseyside. "Ten years, that’s a pretty long time in anyone’s working life. In football terms, it is an era in itself, particularly at a club like Liverpool where the expectations and standards are never anything other than as high as the supporters deserve,” wrote Edwards.
"To be part of this club during this period has been a privilege due to the people I have been fortunate enough to work with and the success we have enjoyed. But all good things must come to an end and, in my case, I recently completed my final summer window as Liverpool sporting director. Even writing those words seems a bit surreal, but at the end of this season I will pack up my laptop and leave my office at the AXA Training Centre for the last time.
"Before I do so, though, I wanted to take this opportunity to explain the reasons why I’m moving on because I’m a great believer that supporters deserve clarity at times like this. The last thing I want is unfounded speculation, particularly as I know the Liverpool Football Club that I am leaving behind couldn’t be in better hands.”
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