- It was revealed in January that he had rejected a chance to return to Liverpool
- Liverpool’s owners FSG though have held fresh talks with Edwards over a return
- The great Klopp and Guardiola rivalry: who comes out on top in their last-ever league game? Listen to the It’s All Kicking Off podcast
Liverpool’s owners reportedly met with Michael Edwards in Boston on Sunday to discuss a potential return to Anfield.
Edwards, who played a key role in the club’s transformation under Jurgen Klopp, stepped down as their sporting director after a 10-year association with the Reds back in 2022.
It was revealed in January that he had rejected the chance to return to Anfield and lead a widespread restructure, following Klopp’s shock announcement that he will leave the club this summer.
The Times have now reported that he has held face-to-face talks with the club’s owners as they continue to persuade him to return to the club.
Edwards spoke to Fenway Sports Group owner John W Henry and president Mike Gordon and the talks have been described as a ‘significant development’.
Michael Edwards reportedly met with Liverpool’s owners FSG in Boston for talks over a return
Edwards left in 2022 after playing a key role in the club’s transformation under Jurgen Klopp
John W Henry (centre) and Mike Gordon met up with Edwards, as FSG plan for life without Klopp
He had attended the Business of Football Summit in London last week before flying to Boston – where FSG own baseball franchise the Boston Red Sox – for the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference.
It’s claimed that the role that FSG would be offering to Edwards would be above that of his prior position as sporting director.
Should he return to Anfield, then he would select the club’s new sporting director, and it’s claimed that he holds Richard Hughes – who will leave Bournemouth this summer – in high regard.
It’s a big summer of change for the league leaders, mainly brought upon by the shock departure of Klopp.
Liverpool’s former midfielder Xabi Alonso is the favourite to take on the role after his impressive work at Bayer Leverkusen, despite interest from another of his ex-clubs Bayern Munich.
Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim and Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi are among other potential candidates.
Edwards took a break following his departure from Liverpool but has teamed up with the club’s former research guru Ian Graham to launch a data advisory company Ludonautics, who are advising clubs such as Bolton Wanderers regarding recruitment.
Klopp will step down as Liverpool manager at the end of the season after nine years at the club
On leaving Liverpool, he said: ‘I had always planned to cap my time at the club to a maximum of 10 years. I’ve loved working here, but I am a big believer in change. I think it’s good for the individual and, in a work setting, good for the employer too.
‘Over my time here we have changed so many things (hopefully for the better) but someone new brings a different perspective, new ideas and can hopefully build on (or change) the things that have been put in place beforehand.
‘That’s how I believe businesses/football clubs stay ahead; you need to evolve.’
