Liverpool

Liverpool

Premier League • England

Key Liverpool target ‘likely’ to agree ‘short-term’ deal ‘this week’, but top source confirms Klopp favourite could go

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp

Liverpool are close to landing a new sporting director in the form of Jorg Schmadtke, but a trusted source has claimed one of his first pieces of business could be replacing a Jurgen Klopp favourite.

The sporting director position has experienced great change in recent times. The much-loved Michael Edwards departed last summer and was replaced by his understudy, Julian Ward.

However, Ward informed the club in November of his intention to leave the role after just one season of pulling the strings. Ward will depart at season’s end.

Fabrizio Romano recently reported the man Liverpool are turning to to plug the gap is Jorg Schmadtke.

Romano claimed the 59-year-old German has “accepted” Liverpool’s offer and a full agreement is “imminent”.

Now, the Athletic’s David Ornstein has shed new light on Schmadtke to Liverpool.

Firstly, Ornstein stated the ex-Wolfsburg chief will jet over to Liverpool this week in order to ‘finalise’ his deal.

An ‘initial short-term deal’ is deemed likely, though there is scope for that to be extended if both he and Liverpool are happy with how the relationship is going.

Schmadtke will work closely with head of recruitment Dave Fallows and chief scout Barry Hunter and once the ink on his contract has signed, he’ll immediately get to work on what’s expected to be a blockbuster summer window.

Ornstein noted Liverpool have already laid much of the groundwork for what’s to come this summer, though Schmadtke will arrive to add the finishing touches.

It’s also important to note Jurgen Klopp has gone on record to state Schmadtke is not being brought to Anfield simply because he shares the same nationality as the manager.

“If it happens, it would not be a Jurgen Klopp signing because we are both German or both know each other,” said the Liverpool boss.

“Jorg Schmadtke I have known a long, long time. He knows me probably not as long as I know him because he was a much better player.

“But we started in a similar moment, our second career (as managers)… so from there, we know each other a little bit.”

Klopp favourite may need replacing

Should Schmadtke get the nod to take the reins at Anfield, one of his first pieces of business may be signing a replacement for back-up goalkeeper, Caoimhin Kelleher.

The Ireland international, 24, hopes to spread his wings and become a first-team regular moving forward.

That cannot happen at Liverpool given the presence of Alisson Becker, meaning a reluctant move away is the only option.

Tottenham have been linked with the player who has never put a foot wrong for Liverpool. Kelleher has always been spoken highly of by Klopp and has played his part in several notable cup successes in recent years.

Ornstein concluded ‘a back-up goalkeeper may be required if Caoimhin Kelleher moves to be a No 1 elsewhere’.

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