Michael Edwards continues to court interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs as the former Liverpool director prolongs his sabbatical from the game.
The 43-year-old, who spent 11 years at Anfield, is credited with playing a key role behind building the club’s most successful side in a generation. Under his watch as Sporting Director, the Reds lifted the Champions League in 2018, before ending their 30-year wait for a Premier League title 12 months later.
Edwards, along with Jurgen Klopp, oversaw a staggeringly successful period of recruitment with the likes of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Andy Robertson and Virgil van Dijk brought to the club. But at the end of last season, Edwards ended his six-year stint as director, handing over the reins to Julian Ward.
“With the new training ground complete, many of the core players committed to the club through long-term contracts and some of the hard work translated into trophies, it’s time for me to move on,” he confirmed in an open letter to fans last year.
And unsurprisingly since leaving the Reds, his services have been in high demand having established a reputation as one of the game’s elite transfer gurus. Mirror Football takes a look at Edwards’ latest situation amid growing speculation over his next move.
Chelsea role offered
Edwards’ departure neatly coincided with Todd Boehly’s acquisition of Chelsea and so naturally, he has been perennially linked with a job at Stamford Bridge. Boehly has revamped the Blues’ transfer structure, ousting Petr Cech and Marina Granovskaia, who both held senior positions in the previous regime.
Christopher Vivell is set to be given the job of Technical Director with Chelsea, with Joe Shields, Paul Wistanley, Laurence Stewart and Kyle Macaulay making up the new-look team. However, it is understood the US tycoon has even more ambitious plans and would like Edwards in situ to oversee the entire recruitment strategy.
Sky Sports report that he was offered a position under the guise as ‘CEO of Football’ rather than Sporting Director, with the rest of the brain-trust feeding ideas into him directly. He was reportedly interested in the scope of the role having held talks with Boehly and Co.
Man Utd happy with their lot
Earlier this week, reports had emerged that Edwards was close to agreeing a deal with Liverpool’s arch rivals Manchester United. That brought about understandable trepidation, with United’s scattergun approach in the market a reason for his old club powering above them into regular title contention.
However, Sky add that talk of an imminent agreement was fiction with the Red Devils content with the current structure they have in place. Like at Chelsea, United have undergone an overhaul behind-the-scenes as they look to end their own title drought which stretches back to 2013.
John Murtough is now in place as Football Director, working with Technical Director Darren Fletcher and new CEO Richard Arnold. There is a feeling that the club’s transfer dealings have rapidly improved since the departure of Ed Woodward and higher-ups are happy to keep the current structure in place.
Other interest
But while United are happy with how they currently stand, a number of clubs across Europe have attempted to gauge his interest. Real Madrid beat his former side in last season’s Champions League final - but were clearly impressed with the side he helped assemble and have been touted as a potential destination.
Paris Saint-Germain are another reported suitor, although how much direction a side already comprising Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar actually requires could be questioned. Interestingly, it has also been suggested that billionaire hedge-fund managers looking to invest in clubs have been liaising with Edwards with the idea of him taking over the football operation after any potential takeover.
Liverpool clauses dismissed
After bringing about an era of success for the Kop, Edwards’ Liverpool departure was an amicable one. Having confirmed his intention to leave all the way back in November 2021, Edwards stuck around to help smooth the transition to Ward, who has impressed with the acquisitions of Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez.
There was therefore no clause inserted into his exit which would prohibit him from taking a job with a top-four rival immediately. Nevertheless, Edwards’ self-imposed hiatus looks set to continue until next summer, where he will then reassess his options before deciding his next move.
