Liverpool have no plans to appoint outgoing Monaco sporting director Paul Mitchell as Julian Ward's successor as they prepare to ramp up their revamp of the recruitment team.
Mitchell confirmed on Wednesday he will this summer leave his position with the Ligue 1 club after three years despite having a further 12 months to run on his contract.
The 41-year-old - who has previously held recruitment roles at MK Dons, Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur - is believed to want a return to England, with a number of Premier League clubs having been linked with an interest, including Liverpool.
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Reports in France earlier this week claimed Mitchell has held talks with the Reds over the possibility of succeeding sporting director Ward, who will leave Anfield in the summer. But the ECHO understands Mitchell is not in the running for the role.
Ward made the surprise announcement in November that he will leave the club at the end of this season, despite having only replaced Michael Edwards as sporting director last summer. He will have been at Liverpool for 11 years come the summer, and told the Reds of his desire to have a break from football following his exit.
Liverpool are now using Ward's imminent exit as an opportunity to consider which model will be the most effective in supporting future football operations, including transfers. Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is part of the process along with chief executive Billy Hogan.
In the meantime, Ward will remain heavily involved in the recruitment of players for the summer transfer window and will oversee the groundwork for the majority of whichever targets Liverpool eventually choose to pursue.
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