Former German goalkeeper Jorg Schmadtke has been put forward as the leading candidate to join Liverpool as the new sporting director, GOAL and other have reported.
What is the news?
Liverpool have been in the market to replace Julian Ward, who decided to step down from the role at the end of the season. Now there are reports that Liverpool have found a potential replacement with the 59-year-old Schmadtke being put forward as the leading candidate. Talks have been ongoing and the reports have claimed that they have reached an advanced stage. Though, nothing has been at this stage.
The backstory
Schamdtke has been without a club since he left Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg in February. In previous years he had a similar role at Aachen, FC Koln and Hannover. The German is a former goalkeeper who played for Fortuna Dusseldorf and Freibiurg in the 1980s and 90s. It is understood that he has a good relationship with Jurgen Klopp and that he has a solid reputation and network in the Bundesliga.
What will happen next?
Ward will be leaving the club at the end of June, only 12 months after he took the role from Michael Edwards. Since Ward told the club he would be stepping down, Liverpool have been searching for a replacement. There have been a number of candidates that have been linked with the vacant job but it now seems that their choice has been made. If negotiations are progressing well, an agreement with Schmadtke is expected to be made before the end of May.
