Real Madrid hopeful of landing Liverpool’s Michael Edwards as sporting director

Real Madrid have reportedly approached Liverpool’s outgoing sporting director Michael Edwards to offer him the chance to join the club in a similar role.

Edwards will leave the Merseyside club at the end of the season after 10 years with the club, having announced his departure in a lengthy farewell letter in October.

It is understood that Edwards, who previously served as chief scout at both Tottenham and Portsmouth, was keen to explore new opportunities.

The 42-year-old is highly-rated in the world of player recruitment after playing a key role in bringing Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker to the club.

His influence and ability to pull off such moves have impressed Real president Florentino Perez, according to The Independent.

RB Leipzig were also thought to be keen on capturing Edwards as part of their ongoing attempts to sign exciting talent to develop and sell them on for high fees, but no move has materialised.

He also rejected the idea of heading up Newcastle’ revolution under their new rich Saudi Arabian owners.

But interest from Real Madrid could prove too tempting to turn down after spending his professional career in England, with the report adding an approach has been made to Edwards.

The Spanish giants have become renowned for their ability to sanction money-spinning transfers to sign the best talent available, turning them into ‘Galacticos’.

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But Madrid’s spending has been somewhat modest in recent years due to the club’s modernisation of the Santiago Bernabeu and the effects of limited income after the worldwide Covid pandemic.

Perez, in his second stint as Real president, has gained notoriety for handling transfers such as Cristiano Ronaldo’s £80million world-record switch in 2009 and Gareth Bale’s £85m move four years later.

But the evolving aspect of modern football means that the 74-year-old is reportedly willing to hand the responsibility over to a dedicated sporting director.

It is expected that Edwards would identify targets to fulfil Real’s ambition of securing marquee signings, alongside acquiring young players capable of vast improvement.

The success of their recruitment in Brazil has seen them sign players such as Vinicius Junior, Rodrigo and Reinier for high fees on long-term contracts, with all three players graduating to the first-team.

One of the first arrivals under his tenure could be PSG star Kylian Mbappe, who has hinted he will leave the Ligue 1 giants on a free transfer, paving the way for him to seal a move to Madrid.

Real have also made a habit of selling players who have graduated from their Cantera to other La Liga outfits, with buy-back clauses included.

Edwards could be persuaded to take on the job and help Carlo Ancelotti’s side return to the top of Spanish football, but when discussing his philosophy, he believes fresh ideas have to be at the forefront.

“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,” Edwards recently told Liverpool’sofficial website.

“That’s how I believe businesses/football clubs stay ahead; you need to evolve and at the heart of this kind of process is always people.

“That evolution has always been central to Liverpool’s history and I hope that this is one thing that doesn’t change.”

Julian Ward will succeed Edwards in the role when he leaves Anfield at the end of the 2021-22 season.

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