Liverpool has been busy constructing a brand new recruitment team ahead of the summer transfer window. While the anticipated appointment of Arne Slot to replace Jürgen Klopp is a significant one, the activity behind the scenes should not be underplayed.
The return of Michael Edwards, this time as the CEO of Football for FSG, goes down as a major coup. He’s been busy putting his preferred candidates in various positions of power, with Julian Ward also coming back to the club in the role of technical director. He joins new sporting director Richard Hughes, while David Woodfine is also returning to Liverpool as his assistant after a period of absence.
The first signing of this new era will be watched with interest, and a report out of Ghana claims that it will be Mohammed Kudus of West Ham. The exciting talent has a release clause in his contract.
Away from transfers, a former Manchester City player has got one last dig in on Klopp. Here’s your Media Digest.
Liverpool ‘will trigger release clause for Mohammed Kudus’
In an exclusive from Ghana Soccer Net, it’s claimed that Liverpool will sign Kudus this summer. ‘First contacts’ have already been made, and the Reds intend to move ahead with the deal.
The report suggests that Liverpool has held an interest in Kudus since last summer, and is now ready to beat off competition from the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester City. Incoming manager Slot is said to rate the West Ham attacking midfielder.
David Ornstein revealed on The Athletic FC Podcast earlier this month that Kudus has a release clause in his contract. And now the report from the player’s native country claims that it is worth $106m (£85m/€98m), a sum Liverpool is prepared to pay.
Former Manchester City player takes swipe at Jürgen Klopp
With the title mathematically eluding Klopp over the weekend, his legacy can start to be assessed in earnest. Or at least, his final trophy count is now known.
In the end, he will bow out with ‘just’ one Premier League title. Obviously, given Liverpool’s three-decade drought, that in itself is a gargantuan achievement, especially when coupled with the Champions League and an array of other honors.
Throw in the fact that Liverpool went within a point twice, including in an incredible 97-point season that it then backed up with a 99-point campaign, and it’s clear that Klopp is one of the all-time greats. But that hasn’t stopped a former Manchester City player from taking a dig.
Posting on X, Rodney Marsh sarcastically gave ‘kudos’ to Klopp for his one Premier League crown. He congratulated him for joining “the elite club along with the likes of Pellegrini & Mancini”.
Perhaps Marsh could take his lead from Pep Guardiola, who has repeatedly admitted the Manchester City era of dominance would not have been possible without Liverpool pushing it all the way. The dig at Klopp is equal parts classless and clueless.
