Liverpool tried to hire Max Eberl before RB Leipzig move

Liverpool tried to recruit sporting director Max Eberl before he joined RB Leipzig in 2022, according to reports in Germany.

Last week it was reported that the Reds were looking at Eberl as an option for their next permanent sporting director.

The 50-year-old was dismissed from his role as director at the RB Leipzig just last month, amid rumours of interest from Bayern Munich.

Leipzig cited a 'lack of commitment to the club' as their reasons for parting ways, with Eberl reportedly toying with a move to the German champions.

However, while there are no longer any obstacles to Eberl joining Bayern, one report in Germany claimed that Liverpool could also compete for his signature – suggesting the possibility for a meeting with FSG in Boston during the international break.

However, Sky Germany have since poured cold water on talk that Liverpool could be about to appoint a new sporting director, but revealed that Eberl was a target last year.

A translated by Sport Witness: "It’s not really hot at the moment. What I can tell you is that we know Liverpool actually wanted to hire Max Eberl after he left Borussia Monchengladbach.

“There was contact, there were discussions and there was really hot interest. However, Max Eberl cancelled at the time."

Eberl left his position at Gladbach in January of 2022 and remained unemployed until December of the same year before taking over at RB Leipzig.

During that time, Liverpool saw sporting director Julian Ward announce his decision to leave the club at the end of the 2022/23 season and it's plausible that the Reds did look at Eberl as a potential successor.

Ultimately, Eberl joined Leipzig and Liverpool ended up appointing Jorg Schmadtke as an interim sporting director on a short-term contract to fill the void left by the departure of Ward.

The 59-year-old former goalkeeper has helped facilitate the arrivals of Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch – all from Bundesliga clubs – but was something of a surprise appointment for Liverpool at the start of this summer.

Though Schmadtke has a one-year deal at Anfield, he revealed that both parties have the option to end the relationship early if they see fit.

Sky's report adds that despite Liverpool's prior interest in Eberl, a deal with Bundesliga champions Bayern is 'more likely' with the transfer chief holding out for the club he spent several years at as an academy player.

“Now the situation is that Eberl is basically waiting for Bayern to go full throttle, he wants to go to Bayern. He is in top shape and wants to bring his expertise to them, but Bayern are not quite moving yet.

“They want to let the grass grow and make an internal decision in December on whether to bring someone in as sporting director or postpone things.

“The fact is, though, that Max Eberl won’t wait months for Bayern so it can’t be ruled out that Liverpool will get involved again because Jorg Schmadtke’s future is open.

“He would be employed as sports director until around January and there is no clear sign what will happen next. So, Liverpool and Eberl is something we’ll keep an eye on, but it’s more likely that he moves to Bayern.”