15 May 2023 , 10:56
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Liverpool’s attempts to rebuild their squad this summer could be complicated by the departure of another key member of staff.
The Reds are on the brink of a hugely-important summer transfer window which will see them attempt to reshape the squad. Midfield is an area of focus, with James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all set to depart when their contracts expire at the end of June.
Liverpool are already set to be without a sporting director at the end of the current season, with Julian Ward leaving the club. And now The Athletic reports that David Woodfine, the club’s director of loan management, is also departing.
Woodfine has worked behind the scenes at Liverpool since 2014, when he joined the club from West Ham. He was hired by the previous director of football, Michael Edwards, who had worked with him at Portsmouth.
He started out as scouting and recruitment coordinator, before moving to become head of football projects and scouting operations. Woodfine has been in his current position, working with the club’s loanees, since December 2020.
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Edwards left Liverpool last year and, with Ward, Woodfine and director of research Dr Ian Graham all following suit at the end of the season, it marks a shift in the way the club operates. Edwards was vaunted for his work in the transfer window while he was sporting director, but those underneath him played a significant role too.
Julian Ward (right) is stepping down as sporting director this summer (Liverpool FC via Getty Images) HAVE YOUR SAY! What would represent a successful summer transfer window for Liverpool? Comment below.
For example, Woodfine was heavily involved in the transfer of Luis Diaz in January 2022, flying out to Argentina to help get a medical done while the winger was on international duty with Colombia.
More recently, he has been tasked with overseeing the development of the club’s youngsters while on loan. That has been a successful avenue of late, with Conor Bradley (Bolton) and Tyler Morton (Blackburn) both excelling this season.
While a replacement for Woodfine has not been announced yet, the club are working on replacing Ward as sporting director. They are in talks with German Jorg Schmadtke over the role, which Klopp views as vital for the club.
Asked about the recruitment process last month, Klopp said : "From what I hear it's going in the right direction. Is there any club without a guy in the role of sporting director? Pretty much everyone has one.
"It makes sense. How many clubs have a sporting director these days? I don't know how they did it in the past without one. You need people for that, there's no chance. I am happy with the structure."
The Liverpool recruitment team will play a vital role this summer, with Klopp admitting the club does not have the money to sign players like Jude Bellingham. “I never understood why we constantly talk about things we theoretically cannot have. We cannot have six players in the summer for £100m [each], for example. That’s clear,” he said in April.
"You have to realise what you can do and then you have to work with that.”