REDS RAMPING UP PURSUIT OF EDWARDS

LIVERPOOL top brass flew Michael Edwards out to Boston last week as they bid to entice him back to the club.

The Reds’ former sporting director jetted out to the US and held face-to-face talks with the club’s principal owner John W Henry and FSG chief Michael Gordon on Sunday.

But Edwards won’t be returning to the club in his previous role if he does decide to take up an offer from the Merseyside outfit.

The renowned Edwards is keen on a more senior position which would give him more control in overseeing the club’s football operations.

That is likely to lead to him appointing the next sporting director, a position he filled from 2016 until 2022 with great success.

Edwards (inset) has already turned down an offer to be sporting director but the club are still very eager to get him back.

He took the job previously in 2016 at just 37 and was a key figure in the club returning to the top of English and European football.

FSG are keen to get him back to front their data-led approach at the club.

Jorg Schmadtke was appointed on a short-term basis last summer to replace Edwards’ successor

Julian Ward.

But Schmadtke, who works closely with

Jurgen Klopp, will also leave this summer.

Once Edwards makes a decision, Liverpool would then ramp up their pursuit of a sporting director.

That will then speed up the process of appointing Klopp’s replacement. Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso remains the top target for the soon-to-be vacant role, despite Bayern Munich’s public flirtation with the Spaniard. Liverpool are wary of unsettling ex-Kop star Alonso as he continues a remarkable season with Leverkusen, who are closing in on their firstever Bundesliga title. Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim and Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi are two others that Liverpool like.