Liverpool

Liverpool

Premier League • England

Liverpool move for ex-Tottenham man takes shape after Fabrizio Romano confirms approach after ‘difficult decision’ is made

Jurgen Klopp Aston Villa v Liverpool

Liverpool have taken a giant leap towards bringing a former Tottenham man on board after he confirmed he’ll leave his current club in short order.

Liverpool are gearing up for what promises to be one of their most important transfer windows in recent memory. A midfield overhaul is required, though the additions are unlikely to end there.

The Reds had become synonymous with expert navigation of the market in the Jurgen Klopp era. Much of the credit for their superb hit-rate must go to former sporting director, Michael Edwards.

Edwards was subsequently replaced by understudy Julian Ward after stepping down. However, Ward too will leave at season’s end with a new job at Ajax awaiting.

As yet, Liverpool had not confirmed who their next sporting director would be. However, the speculation it could be former Tottenham chief Paul Mitchell has ramped up a notch today.

L’Equipe reported in February the 41-year-old would leave his current role at Monaco this summer. Speaking to French newspaper Nice-Matin, Mitchell has now confirmed he will indeed leave Monaco.

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Paul Mitchell confirms Monaco exit

“It was a very difficult decision,” said Mitchell. “I loved my experience at this club.

“I have always felt a lot of support from president Dmitry Rybolovlev. We had several discussions about my mission, about the possibility of changing roles within the club, of extending my contract. I am very grateful to the president for trusting me. We have built a relationship based on transparency and honesty.

“But I have spent a lot of time away from home and my loved ones in recent years. I feel that the mission I had, which was to rebuild the sports project, has been fulfilled.”

Mitchell then stressed a new man must be put in place at the Ligue 1 outfit before he officially takes his leave. However, with over two months left to go before the summer window opens, he’s still on course to leave Monaco at season’s end.

Next stop: Liverpool?

Get French Football News reported Liverpool had held talks with Mitchell over succeeding Julian Ward at Anfield.

Fabrizio Romano subsequently confirmed that to be true, with the trusted reporter tweeting: “Premier League clubs have already had contacts and approaches for Mitchell to try new Premier League experience, including Liverpool.”

Mitchell has performed in a sporting director role at Southampton, Tottenham and RB Leipzig in the past before being appointed by Monaco.

The French side had hoped Mitchell would stay, though he cited the feeling that he’d fulfilled his mission at Monaco and the time spent away from his family as reasons for leaving the club.

His time at Spurs was particularly successful from a recruitment perspective given the likes of Kieran Trippier, Toby Alderweireld, Dele Alli and Son Heung-min were signed on his watch.

Liverpool will hope those types of heroics can be replicated at Anfield if the timelines for an appointment ahead of a truly pivotal summer match up.

Mitchell was also asked about the speculation linking him with a return to England, and chose to keep his cards close to his chest.

“Not everything that is being said in the media today is necessarily true,” added Mitchell in his interview with Nice-Matin.

“My responsibility is to focus on Monaco and I take it very seriously. Whether I was liked or not, I always put the club before my personal interests. That’s what I will continue to do.

“Life is all about timing, you can never say never but I want to leave this project on solid track.”

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