Jörg Schmadtke must now make Liverpool transfer call Michael Edwards and Julian Ward declined

Jörg Schmadtke, Liverpool’s new sporting director, has a hectic summer. He must, however, make one transfer decision that Michael Edwards and Julian Ward had postponed.

 

There is a new face in charge at Liverpool for the third time in little more than a year. Jörg Schmadtke is now in charge of resolving the issues at Anfield, at least temporarily, after Julian Ward and Michael Edwards both resigned from their positions as sporting directors.

 

However, despite the change in leadership, many problems from the Edwards and Ward administrations remain unaddressed. And it’s now up to Schmadtke to deal with problems. From a midfield issue to working under a limited budget, the temporary appointment will be hoping to find some solutions to long term fixes.

There’s also one recurring big question over the future of a Liverpool player many have forgotten about. Nathaniel Phillips has hardly featured over the last year at Anfield, and yet he still remains on the club’s books, contracted to Liverpool until 2025.

With just five appearances for the club’s first team in 2022/23, Phillips has hardly featured for Liverpool and at 26 years old, he is far from a youngster who can afford to continue to sit on the bench and be a squad player.

At his age, he needs to be playing regular football, and he can only do that with a permanent move away from the club.

For Liverpool, keeping him around will be of no benefit. Jürgen Klopp has enough center-backs at his disposal and he could even add to them this summer. Phillips has become a luxury the Reds simply cannot afford to keep around.

 

Of course, Liverpool could point to the homegrown rule and say Phillips is needed in order to ensure the Reds fulfil the criteria of eight players in the squad, but at this point there are better alternatives who could also qualify. Meanwhile, there are youngsters who do not need registering just yet but can still take up squad roles — such as Tyler Morton, who impressed at Blackburn Rovers, and who could ultimately take up a homegrown slot

Kept around by Michael Edwards, and even signing a new long-term contract after his valiant performances stepping up when virtually all of Liverpool’s defenders were injured during the 2020/21 season, Phillips could not break into the side in the next campaign.