MAJOR Liverpool arrival confirmed - sporting director to follow

Michael Edwards has agreed to return to Liverpool in a yet-to-be confirmed senior role, leading football operations for the club.

Edwards, who departed Anfield in 2022, was targeted for a return by Liverpool's FSG owners as part of the structural shake-up following Jurgen Klopp's exit.

While Edwards initially declined to return in his old post as sporting director, he was then offered a more senior position in a final face-to-face pitch by FSG leaders John W. Henry and Mike Gordon in America at the start of March.

Paul Joyce of the Times is among those to report that Edwards accepted the offer on Monday, after further discussions.

It is said that the "details of his exact role are set to follow", but that the 44-year-old will take on an overarching role at the club.

Edwards spent ten years at Liverpool between 2012 and 2022 in a variety of roles, working his way up to sporting director in 2016.

He became immensely popular with fans, earning a reputation for identifying and securing top talent in the transfer market through a data-led approach, as well as getting best value from player sales.

He is credited with playing a key role in the arrivals of several of the most pivotal signings of the modern era at Liverpool, including the likes of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker.

Hughes to follow

Joyce's report adds that Edwards' first task will be to recruit the new sporting director, replacing interim appointee Jorg Schmadtke who left at the end of the January transfer window.

The confirmation of departing Bournemouth technical director Richard Hughes is "considered a formality", according to Joyce.

Meanwhile, Fabrizio Romano reports that there is "already an agreement in place" between Hughes and Liverpool.

The 44-year-old former midfielder spent time with Edwards at Portsmouth earlier in their careers and is highly regarded for his work at Bournemouth, where he has overseen signings like Nathan Ake, Callum Wilson, Dominic Solanke, Tyrone Mings and Lloyd Kelly, as well as the hiring of current manager Andoni Iraola.