Liverpool are in talks with experienced German executive Jorg Schmadtke for the role of sporting director.
The 59-year-old has emerged as the surprise front-runner for the job as Liverpool seek a replacement for Julian Ward, who will step down at the end of the season and take a break from football, just 12 months after officially taking over from Michael Edwards.
Schmadtke is well known to manager Jurgen Klopp with him having held similar roles in Germany at Aachen, Hannover 96, FC Cologne and Wolfsburg.
Klopp has been playing a part in the recruitment process alongside Liverpool chief executive Billy Hogan and Fenway Sports Group president Mike Gordon.
Schmadtke was a goalkeeper for Fortuna Dusseldorf and Freiburg during the 1980s and 1990.
Following his exit from Wolfsburg in February, he said: “There are other things in life that I want to do. But it might be the case that after three months I can’t take it anymore. Or even worse my wife chases me out of the house.”
When asked recently about the search for a successor to Ward, Klopp said: “From what I’ve heard it’s all going in the right direction.
“How many clubs are out there without a sporting director now? Pretty much everyone has one because it makes sense.
“It’s not about how a manager is involved in…
