Liverpool have Jurgen Klopp under contract until the summer of 2024, but one of the other architects of their recent success will be leaving the club in the near future. Sporting director Michael Edwards has been hugely impressive at Liverpool, coming through the ranks to shape the club’s transfer policy.
He announced at the start of November that he will be stepping down from the role at the end of the season.
Liverpool offered the 42-year-old a new contract, but he has instead decided to move onto pastures new after 10 years on Merseyside.
By any measure Edwards has been successful at Liverpool, helping Klopp’s side win the Premier League, Champions League, Super Cup and Club World Cup in recent seasons.
Liverpool’s recruitment policy has been absolutely key to those trophy wins and his departure will undoubtedly come as a blow to the club.
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Mohamed Salah
The most obvious Real Madrid target is Salah, who has been strongly linked to the club for some time.
Salah has a claim to being the best player in the world right now, so it is hardly surprising that Real, as the original Galactico club, want to sign him.
The Egyptian is currently under contract until June 2023 and if that remains the case in the summer then Liverpool can expect plenty of interest, whether Edwards joins Real Madrid or not.
Real may be in a different era financially, but president Florentino Perez still has his eye on big-money signings and Salah would fit the bill perfectly, especially if Kylian Mbappe does not arrive from Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the campaign.
Sadio Mane
Like Salah, Mane is currently under contract until June 2023, and like his striker partner, he is yet to agree terms on an extension.
That situation means Real Madrid are likely to have their eye on developments, regardless of their interest in Edwards.
Mane has been consistently excellent over the past five years for Liverpool, contributing 106 goals and 44 assists in 240 matches altogether.
Those numbers are sure to make him of interest to Real, who could do with back-up to budding young talents Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr in attack.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
A bit more left-field perhaps, but Oxlade-Chamberlain has a high ceiling of potential and has the ability to step up, if only he can stay injury-free.
Like Mane and Salah, Oxlade-Chamberlain was signed by Edwards at Liverpool, so the sporting director has no doubts about his class.
While Klopp won’t want to lose the 28-year-old midfielder, he would represent a very achievable target for Real, given his current status in the squad and contract until June 2023.
Roberto Firmino
The ultimate Edwards signing at Liverpool. When Firmino arrived from Hoffenheim for £29million back in 2015 there were pundits queuing up to ridicule the move.
Yet six years later, the Brazilian is a club legend, having led the line during their most successful period in recent history.
Firmino is an analyst’s dream and Edwards’ interest in statistics-based recruitment makes the pair a marriage made in heaven.
The 30-year-old would give Real a different option to Karim Benzema.
Curtis Jones
The Independent says Real chief Perez is interested in Edwards because of the need to adapt their well-known transfer policy slightly.
While they will still aim for the big names, Real also want up-and-coming stars. Jones is undoubtedly one of those.
The 20-year-old midfielder has enjoyed a remarkable breakthrough year at Liverpool, progressing despite the huge competition for places in Klopp’s side.
Jones came through the Liverpool academy and is a fan of the club, so might be a difficult one to persuade, but he has the kind of profile that will interest Edwards should he move to Spain.