Paul Mitchell has confirmed he is to step down from his role as Monaco sporting director as links continue over a possible move to Liverpool.
The 41-year-old will officially leave the Ligue 1 side once he has sounded out a successor for his role, bringing an end to his three years at the French club despite having a further year to run on his contract.
Of the view 'his mission is complete' at Monaco, Mitchell is now seeking a fresh opportunity as he prepares to depart. A recent report claimed he has held talks over replacing Julian Ward at Liverpool, though the ECHO understands the Reds have distanced themselves from such claims.
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Commenting on his decision to exit the club, he told Nice-Matin: “I loved my experience at the club. I have always felt lots of support from president Dmitri Rybolovev and from the Principality. We had numerous discussions about my mission, about the possibility of changing my role within the club, and about extending my contract.
"I am very grateful to the president for having confidence in me, We have created a relationship based on transparency and honesty, but I’ve spent a lot of time away from home and my close ones these past years. I have the feeling that the mission that I had, which was to create a sporting project, is complete.”
He added: “I took the decision a few months ago. That hasn’t made me less demanding. I was still very busy. I am someone who works hard, but things have maybe even intensified. In the stands, I still don’t enjoy the matches that don’t go well. I am still very invested in the club and I will continue to be so until my final day.”
Mitchell has previously held recruitment positions at MK Dons, Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur, playing a key role in the latter signing the likes of Dele Alli and Heung-min Son. Speaking to the Athletic last year, he revealed he would one day be open to returning to the Premier League but refused to comment on the likelihood of this occurring during his exit interview from Monaco.
“Everything that is currently being said in the press isn’t necessarily true," he said of links to Liverpool and Manchester United. "My responsibility is to concentrate on Monaco and I take that very seriously. Whether or not I’m appreciated, I have always put the interests of the club above my own. I am going to continue to do that. Life is a question of timing. You can never say never, but I want to leave this project on a solid footing."
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