Jurgen Klopp has claimed that Julian Ward’s resolution to step down as Liverpool’s sporting director ‘could have no influence’ on their January switch window.
Ward, final month, knowledgeable the membership he’ll step down from his place on the finish of the season regardless of solely taking on from Michael Edwards on the finish of the final marketing campaign.
Some followers have been left involved with the timing of the announcement – with the January switch window arising – however Klopp reassured supporters that Ward stays ‘100 per cent dedicated’ to the membership.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp stated he was stunned by Julian Ward’s resolution to step down
Julian Ward will stroll away from his place as sporting director on the finish of the season
Talking at his press convention on Friday, Klopp stated: ‘It was a shock when Julian informed me however we work utterly regular collectively till that day when he’ll depart.
‘He is 100 per cent dedicated & every thing is ok. He informed me after the Southampton recreation. I used to be stunned in that second nevertheless it’s his resolution.
‘It is going to don’t have any influence on this era (January window), by no means. We have been utterly regular collectively and by no means had an issue.’
It’s understood that Ward’s resolution has been made for private causes and that the membership have reluctantly accepted his interval of discover.
Ward has held plenty of positions inside Liverpool’s technical employees since he joined them in 2011, earlier than succeeding the influential Michael Edwards.
Ward (proper) enjoys an in depth relationship with Liverpool supervisor Jurgen Klopp (centre)
The Reds sporting director solely took over from Michael Edwards (left) on the finish of final season
As sporting director, Ward was instrumental in securing Liverpool’s record-breaking signing of Darwin Nunez from Benfica and finishing the contract extension for Mohamed Salah.
There have been plenty of different new offers in latest months, too, with Diogo Jota, Joe Gomez and Curtis Jones all committing their futures to the membership.
The sudden improvement got here as shock to many on the membership, given Ward’s shut relationship with Jurgen Klopp – who he repeatedly performs paddle tennis with.
It is understood that the Merseyside membership will search for an exterior candidate to switch Ward.
Ward was instrumental in Liverpool making their record-breaking signing of Darwin Nunez
There is no such thing as a indication at this stage as to who that can be however, at a juncture when Chelsea are additionally on the lookout for a brand new sporting director, it isn’t a time when Liverpool will be capable to be too passive of their search.
Former Borussia Dortmund chief scout Sven Mislintat is a candidate to takeover as Liverpool sporting Director in summer season 2023.
The offers Mislintat is credited with a task in embrace the acquisitions of Robert Lewandoswki, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Mats Hummels, Ousmane Dembele and Shinji Kagawa.
Though profitable within the Bundesliga, Mislintat’s sole Premier League expertise got here as a director at Arsenal, throughout which era he made eight signings, with solely two being offered for a revenue.
Sven Mislintat is a reported candidate for the sporting director position at Liverpool subsequent summer season
