Few join Manchester United after representing Liverpool and retain the affection of the Anfield faithful – just ask Michael Owen.
But that hasn’t deterred Sir Jim Ratcliffe from targeting a man influential to the success of the Merseyside club in the past decade. Julian Ward became a key figure at Liverpool after joining in 2012, initially as a scout, before later becoming technical director.
He then took the role of sporting director in the summer of 2022 following the departure of Michael Edwards, but left the club after just one season in the top job at the end of the 2022-23 campaign, citing a desire to take a break from football. But now he’s firmly in the running for the chief executive role at United, with Richard Arnold on the way out after 16 years at Old Trafford.
Before replacing Edwards, the 42-year-old played a significant role in one key signing, before overseeing four more in the 2022-23 campaign and then one last summer.
Luis Diaz
In January 2022, Ward was deemed to have played a pivotal part in bringing Luis Diaz to Anfield from Porto for a £37.5million fee.
As of yet, the stats don’t truly reflect his impact. Within months of signing for Jurgen Klopp Diaz had played a crucial role in his team winning the League Cup, FA Cup, and reaching the Champions League final. His late equaliser against Tottenham in the title run-in so nearly brought the Reds league glory as well.
Last season though he was curtailed by a knee injury that restricted him to just 17 league appearances. There have been flashes of brilliance in this campaign, despite coping with a harrowing family ordeal after his parents were kidnapped in his native Colombia. But Diaz in full flight is a threat to any Premier League or European defence. And at just 26, his impact will only grow from here. A successful signing.
Darwin Nunez
The jury remains out on Darwin Nunez, and Klopp could be forgiven at growing impatient at the lack of a conclusive verdict.
Movement, strength, tenacity, work-rate, all the ingredients are there for Nunez who ultimately justify the potential £85million (dependent on add-ons) that Liverpool paid Benfica in the summer of 22. Except for one – finishing.
The 22 league goals in 68 club games actually masks the vast amount of key chances he continues to miss, a notion that must be surely addressed if Liverpool are to maintain a title challenge when Mo Salah heads to the AFCON in January. A player of immense potential who will become prolific – or an expensive flop? Nunez, 24, can still go either way.
Fabio Carvalho
Another 2022 summer signing, if the ex-Fulham man endured a wasted year in his debut campaign, then he’s faring little better on loan.
A crucial later winner against Newcastle was a highlight, but the 21-year-old winger would only end up featuring in 13 league games. Carvalho wasn’t shy in making his discontent known on social media and soon made a temporary move to RB Leipzig – but regular first-team football hasn’t materialised in Germany either.
Calvin Ramsay
The right-back was another to arrive in time for last season, but after signing from Aberdeen would make just two cup appearances before being sent to Preston on loan for this campaign.
If the Reds would have hoped the Championship would develop the 20-year-old, who already has one Scotland cap, but instead his career has stalled. He was sent back to Merseyside for rehabilitation after a knee injury left him needing surgery in the summer, and since coming back to Deepdale has managed to play just twice.
He’s been left out of the squad entirely for Preston’s last two fixtures and the prospects of an extended deal look bleak. The £4.2million fee that Ward sanctioned currently looks questionable.
Cody Gakpo
Given the depth of Liverpool’s attacking options, the decision to spend around £40million for the PSV player last January raised eyebrows.
But when you score twice in a 7-0 win over Manchester United, you’ll go down in club folklore at Anfield for evermore. Gakpo remains a quality option for Klopp, especially given the need to rotate amid their cup commitments this season, and the fact he started last weekend’s draw with Arsenal shows the manager trusts him in crunch games too.
Alexis Mac Allister
Ward had actually departed before the Argentinian World Cup winner signed for an initial £35million bargain fee – but did much to set up the move before he left.
Despite a stunning strike in the 4-3 win over Fulham, the feeling remains that the 25-year-old is yet to replicate the form that made him so pivotal Brighton, not to mention his country in Qatar. Deployed in a more defensive role than he’s become accustomed to, Mac Allister may be craving the signing of a deep-sitting midfielder just as much as Liverpool fans are.
