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With the summer transfer window opening in just over a month, one of the big questions around Liverpool's plans could be about to be answered.
As things stand, the Merseyside club face going into the window without a permanent sporting director, with Julian Ward set to step down from the role at the end of the season.
Ward stunned the club in November when he announced his intention to leave, just one year after replacing Michael Edwards in the role.
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His imminent departure has been an unwanted distraction for the club ahead of a hugely important transfer window, with Jurgen Klopp keen to make a number of key signings after a disappointing campaign.
Jorg Schmadtke has now emerged as the surprise leading candidate to succeed Ward, with Liverpool currently in talks with the German.
Schmadtke left Wolfsburg in February after more than four years as the club’s sporting director, having held similar roles at Hannover and Cologne.
The 59-year-old, who has developed a reputation for identifying bargain signings, has been described as an 'ally' of Klopp.
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But his emergence as favourite to replace Ward is likely to divide opinion, with the German also guilty of major errors in the transfer market.
Schmadtke's Osimhen error
Shortly after taking over at Wolfsburg in 2018, he sanctioned the loan and eventual €3.5m (£3m) sale of Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen to RSC Charleroi.
Only four weeks later, the Belgium club sold Osimhen to Lille for €22m (£19.2m).
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Osimhen has since moved on to Napoli, where has become of the most highly-rated strikers in world football.
The Nigerian international has scored 28 goals in all competitions, including an equaliser in Thursday's 1-1 draw with Udinese, to help Napoli win their first Serie A title in 33 years.
Osimhen is now being linked with a number of top clubs in Europe, including Manchester United – who have placed the striker at the top of their transfer list along with Tottenham forward Harry Kane.
Napoli are reluctant to sell Osimhen and have slapped a £150m price tag on the striker, according to talkSPORT.
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Speaking about his decision to sell Osimhen in 2018, Schmadtke told Kicker: "It wasn’t a good move, in hindsight.
"When I came, he was limping and running in circles. I was told that the strikers we had weren’t good enough."
Liverpool fans will hope that if Schmadtke is indeed given the sporting director job at Anfield, mistakes like the Osimhen sale are a thing of the past.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Liverpool, Football, Premier League, Victor Osimhen