If ever there was a time for Michael Edwards to work his magic again at Liverpool, then that time is now.
As of this moment, the returning transfer guru has the full support of the Liverpool fanbase after his success alongside Jurgen Klopp in his first spell at the club.
But now the German is set to depart at the end of the season and Michael Edwards will be expected to work alongside Arne Slot.
It hasn’t been confirmed by Liverpool yet, but it has been well-documented that he is going to swap Dutch giants Feyenoord for the English Premier League.
This is a huge jump for the 45-year-old and he is going to need all the help he needs to succeed.
This is where Edwards, who returned to the club this season, needs to recapture that old magic and ensure Liverpool move forward post-Klopp because he hasn’t decided to bring in a proven manager.
When the Englishman first came back, many were left surprised, with Richard Keys stating that there is ‘no way’ he returned without having ‘assurances’ that he will be in charge of all football matters.
The beIN Sports presenter turned to what ‘insiders’ have told him about Edwards and how he ended up losing the ‘power struggle’ two years ago on Merseyside and that contributed to his exit, as he wrote in his personal blog.
You assume Fenway Sports Group (FSG) had to do a lot to persuade him to come back because this gig is going to be his toughest yet.
Michael Edwards and Jurgen Klopp Arne Slot
“In amongst the things I’ve read about him (Slot) so far was a revealing line that ten Slot will not be ‘manager’ at Anfield. He’s going to be ‘head coach’,” wrote Keys.
“Why is that significant? Well – I believe because it cements Michael Edwards’ position as ‘head of football’. Edwards has only recently returned to Liverpool after a two-year absence. Perhaps it’s just coincidence he’s back when Klopp is leaving? But I don’t believe it is. Talk to insiders and they’ll tell you he left after a fall-out with Klopp, who ended up running Liverpool from top to bottom. Quite simply – Edwards lost the power struggle.
“There is no way Edwards would’ve returned to the club unless he had assurances about having total control of all football matters. That meant he’d be working with a coach – not a manager. Whether he’s chosen the right one only time will tell.”
Liverpool’s transfers
From Darwin Nunez to Cody Gakpo. There have been some recent transfer calls that fans are yet to be convinced by.
You have to compare Liverpool’s current situation to when Sir Alex Ferguson departed Manchester United and the club losing that longevity.
When the Scotsman left, so did Chief Executive David Gill and it resulted in everything from transfers and performances spiralling out of control – and they still haven’t recovered.
You feel with Edwards, that stability remains post-Klopp and that trust that he can bring in the right players for Slot to succeed.