By David Lynch, Merseyside Correspondent

31st Mar, 2023 | 7:04pm

Sources: Liverpool to appoint external director of football

Liverpool’s next sporting director will an external appointment with past experience of a similar role, sources have told Football Insider.

The Reds are on the hunt for a successor to Julian Ward after it was announced in November that he will step down just 12 months on from accepting the job.

Ward had previously served as an assistant sporting before stepping up following the departure of the influential Michael Edwards last summer.

And it has been suggested that Liverpool could take a similar approach after being forced to recruit for the role for the second time in a year.

Head of recruitment Dave Fallows, who has been with the club since a 2012 move from rivals Manchester City, is one of the names to have been been linked with a promotion.

However, Football Insider understands that Liverpool intend to appoint an external candidate with previous sporting director experience.

That rules out Fallows, as well as any other current members of the club’s recruitment staff, such as chief scout Barry Hunter.

And it is also sure to lead to speculation regarding a number of potential candidates currently working for Europe’s top clubs.

Ward is set to remain in post until his summer departure, and is expected to be fully involved in planning Liverpool’s next transfer window.

Asked about his decision to leave in December, Klopp said: “It was a surprise when Julian told me but we work completely normal together until that day when he will leave.

“He’s 100 per cent committed & everything is fine. He told me after the Southampton game. I was surprised in that moment but it’s his decision.

“It will have no impact on this period (January window), not at all. We were completely normal together and never had a problem.”

In other news, Liverpool now in pole position to land £100m+ signing