Late in 2021, when Michael Edwards announced he would be leaving Liverpool at the end of his contract this summer, there was understandably a sense of trepidation amongst Reds supporters.
Having arrived at Liverpool in 2012 and later appointed as the Reds' first-ever sporting direction in 2016, Edwards and his leading recruitment team, including the likes of David Fallows and Barry Hunter, have rightly been credited for much of the club's success over the likes six years, or at least for building the firm foundations for trophies to flow through the door.
Edwards' hard-ball approach when bargaining with buying clubs, most notably in 2018 when he stung Barcelona of £142m for the sale of star man Philippe Coutinho, has earned Liverpool a reputation as the world's most clinical operators when it comes to the transfer agreements.
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However, as this year marks the first summer without the 42-year-old in any capacity at Anfield since 2011, his heir - Julian Ward - is handed the demanding task of repeating the stellar dealings of his predecessor. Ward, a former Manchester City scout, ensured his time in the limelight commenced impressively as he utilised his contacts from his days as the Reds' European scouting manager in Portugal to secure the services of Darwin Nunez from Benfica.
In a deal which could potentially surpass the fee Edwards negotiated with Southampton for Virgil van Dijk in 2018, Ward had no intentions of resting on his laurels as he followed up the signing of the Uruguayan with the addition of promising 18-year-old right-back Calvin Ramsay from Aberdeen.
Though despite the impressive level of incomings Ward has managed after less than a month as Liverpool's chief transfer guru, it will in fact be his ability to negotiate savvy departures that will define his time as the sporting director.
During the five years under Edwards' stewardship, Liverpool raised roughly £392m through player sales. Obvious highlights from that batch of players include the aforementioned sale of Coutinho Spain and Dominic Solanke, who managed just one Premier League goal at Anfield, moving to Bournemouth for £19m.
Rhian Brewster’s £23.5m switch to Sheffield United, which saw the Reds recoup most of their outlay from the signing of Thiago Alcantara, in 2020 is one of just many reasons why Liverpool are viewed as one of the finest, well-worked institutions in the sporting world.
Already this summer Liverpool have received an unexpected, albeit minor, boost to their transfer kitty thanks to Tawio Anowonyi’s move from Union Berlin to Premier League new boys Nottingham Forrest, with the German outfit passing £1.5m to the Reds due to a clause inserted in the deal that saw him end his stay six-year Anfield last summer.
It’s a sum which is ironically Edwards' last involvement at Anfield, for the time being anyway, and it’s one that highlights how he was able to hand Jurgen Klopp the tools and resources to build one of the finest sides in the club's history.
Ward will, of course, be given his own opportunities to demonstrate his learnings from his past master, with plenty of outgoings expected so far this summer.
Neco Williams, who enjoyed a prosperous loan spell at Championship winners Fulham during the latter stage of last season, is expected to leave the club this summer with the Cottagers keen to bring him back to Craven Cottage on a permanent deal this summer.
Liverpool, led by their new sporting director, are determined to have the £15m valuation of the Welshman met if they are to part company with the promising defender this window, with Marco Silva’s side currently the favourites to secure his signature despite interest from Nottingham Forest.
Nat Phillips is another player that could allow Ward to demonstrate his negotiating prowess with the Reds currently holding out for a similar fee to Williams. However, having rewarded the defender with a new long-term contract just last summer, Liverpool are open to keeping him contracted at Anfield, or sending him out on loan, for the upcoming season if the valuation set on the 25-year-old is not met.
It is believed Phillips' future will depend on the outcome of contract talks with Joe Gomez, and discussions with Joel Matip surrounding his future, which are expected to take place when the squad report back for pre-season at the start of next month.
Rather importantly, the revenue Liverpool are skilled enough to earn from clause-loaded exits in this summer window and those in the future will subsequently allow Klopp's men to bridge the financial gap between themselves and Manchester City. Pep Guardiola's men have enjoyed a world free of financial strain since Sheikh Mansour bought the club in 2008.
In recent times, the Citizens have come under intense scrutiny for their supposed 'inflated sponsorship deals' which have looked to balance the books over in south Manchester as they look to finally shake off numerous wrongdoings in regards to UEFA's Financial Fair Play rulings.
And while Liverpool do not boast the riches of their foes from across the M62, If Ward is able to replicate the ingenious deals that become part of his former supervisor's genetic code, then Liverpool will be in fine shape to continue their intense rivalry with Guardiola's men.
