Real Madrid 'want to poach Liverpool's sporting director Michael Edwards' after the club's transfer guru told Anfield bosses he has no plans to sign a new contract when it expires this summer

Real Madrid are reportedly hoping to lure Liverpool's transfer guru Michael Edwards away from Anfield this summer.

The Reds' sporting director's contract expires in the summer and in August The Athletic reported Edwards had informed Liverpool bosses he would leave at the end of the season.

According to The Sun, the 41-year-old's imminent availability has seen him emerge as a target for Real's president Florentino Perez ahead of a major overhaul of the Spanish giants' setup.

Michael Edwards holds a stellar reputation but is reportedly set to quit Liverpool in the summer

Michael Edwards holds a stellar reputation but is reportedly set to quit Liverpool in the summer

Edwards (left) pictured with manager Jurgen Klopp and owners FSG's president Mike Gordon will reportedly leave the club next summer

Edwards (left) pictured with manager Jurgen Klopp and owners FSG's president Mike Gordon will reportedly leave the club next summer

Real have made no mystery of their desire to land Kylian Mbappe on a free transfer at the end of the season and Spanish outlet ABC reported on Saturday they could consider a similar move for Paul Pogba, should he run down his contract at Manchester United. 


Since Edwards took on the role of sporting director in November 2016, Liverpool won the Champions League in 2019 and the Premier League the following season, when they also lifted the European SuperCup and the FIFA Club World Cup.

They also finished runners-up in the Champions League in 2018 and in the league the following year.

Virgil van Dijk (left) and Mohamed Salah (right) are two of Edwards' most successful signings

Virgil van Dijk (left) and Mohamed Salah (right) are two of Edwards' most successful signings

The Athletic noted the situation was not yet 'finalised' and that it was possible Edwards could still perform a U-turn and extend his stay at Anfield.

Jurgen Klopp seemed unperturbed by the uncertainty over the future of one of the club's key figures.

'We've worked together for six years and I don't think I've had a different sporting director,' the German told The Sun.

Andy Robertson's £8m move from Huill in 2017 is possibly Edwards' greatest bargain

Andy Robertson's £8m move from Huill in 2017 is possibly Edwards' greatest bargain

'But it's not my decision to do these kinds of things, so I don't know.

'You need to ask other people about this, but over contracts, we don't discuss, right. 

'So I will not start now with the sporting director.

Klopp said he was unconcerned over rumours Edwards may quit his post next year

Klopp said he was unconcerned over rumours Edwards may quit his post next year

'That's really interesting, I've never spoken before about the contract of a sporting director.

'If it was my point of view, if it expires next year, which I didn't know exactly, I will think about that next year and not now.'

Edwards has developed a reputation for being a shrewd operator in the transfer market and has played a pivotal role in restoring the Reds to the summit of English and European football.

Madrid are hoping to sign Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe on a free transfer next summer

Madrid are hoping to sign Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe on a free transfer next summer

In his decade-long spell at Anfield, the 41-year-old was one of the architects behind several key signings such as Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson, Virgil Van Djik, Sadio Mane and Alisson.

Edwards was also part of the 'transfer committee' that sanctioned Philippe Coutinho's departure to Barcelona for £142 million in January 2018 - the highest fee Liverpool have ever received for a player.

Having joined from Tottenham in 2011 as Liverpool's head of performance and analysis, Edwards subsequently became the club's director of technical performance and then moved onto the technical director role. 

Liverpool risk losing sporting director Michael Edwards to Real Madrid for free in the summer

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