Julian Ward makes shock Liverpool return! Michael Edwards re-hires former sporting director just 18 months after his departure

Edwards, former director of football at FSG, returned as the company's CEO and is overseeing a massive overhaul in personnel. Ward worked as Liverpool's sporting director for one season having spent a decade at the club and is now back to pick up a role as technical director for the ownership group less than two years after leaving Merseyside.

One of the biggest tasks Ward will be involved in is ushering in a new era post-Jurgen Klopp. It is expected that Feyenoord's Arne Slot will be confirmed as the new Reds boss at the end of the season and the former sporting director, alongside Edwards and the incoming Richard Hughes will be working the transfer market to ensure the club remain competitive next season.

Ward originally joined Liverpool with the task of identifying talent in Portugal and Spain. He was key in bringing Fabio Carvalho from Fulham and eventually earned a promotion to loan pathways manager before taking over from Edwards when he left.

Klopp may be leaving, but Ward and Co will be hoping to keep the remaining core at Liverpool together, including Mohamed Salah. Slot will need all the help he can get to ensure a fast start to life in the Premier League and having the club's top players available and happy could make the difference between a title challenge and Champions League challengers.