Liverpool in talks with Jurgen Klopp's preferred sporting director candidate

Forum 1 year ago

Liverpool in talks with Jurgen Klopp's preferred sporting director candidate

Liverpool have held talks with Jorg Schmadtke over their sporting director vacancy, 90min understands.

The Reds are on the hunt for a replacement for Julian Ward, who will leave the role at the end of the season having only been promoted into the job last summer following Michael Edwards' departure.

59-year-old Schmadtke was at German outfit Wolfsburg as recently as February and sources have told 90min he is manager Jurgen Klopp's preferred candidate for the position.

Fenway Sports Group believe appointing Schmadtke at Liverpool would show signs of further commitment to Klopp, who they want to involve in more major decisions.

When asked about a new sporting director coming in back in April, Klopp responded: "That is in the hands of other people, but from what I have heard, it is all going in the right direction.

"Yes [we will continue with a sporting director]. How many clubs do not have one now? Pretty much everybody has a sporting director and that is because it makes sense."

Schmadtke was at Wolfsburg for four and a half years and oversaw a fourth place finish for Die Wolfe in 2020/21 to qualify for the Champions League. They finished bottom of their UCL group and came 12th in the league the following season.

The former Fortuna Dusseldorf and Freiburg goalkeeper also worked in director roles for Koln and Hannover 96.