Liverpool need a sporting director to replace Jorg Schmadtke and Nice chief Florent Ghisolfi admits he is flattered to have been mentioned as an option for the Premier League challengers.
Jurgen Klopp is not the only senior figure Liverpool will need to move on from when the current campaign comes to an end.
A host of backroom staff and behind-the-scenes figures are also departing, with Schmadtke following Klopp and his assistant Pep Lijnders – who HITC Football understands has been lined up for the Ajax job – out the door.
HITC have also been told that Liverpool have not yet given up on luring Michael Edwards, the brains behind so many highly-successive transfers in the Klopp era, back for a second spell at Anfield. But with Edwards resisting FSG’s advances, the Merseyside giants could be forced to look a little further afield.
And, according to The Athletic, report that Florent Ghisolfi is one name to keep an eye on. The 39-year-old Frenchman has impressed the Liverpool bosses, having worked wonders during spells at Lens and now a Sir Jim Ratcliffe-owned OGC Nice outfit.
Liverpool need a new manager and a sporting director
“The requests from big clubs are rewarding,” Ghisolfi tells Nice Matin, speaking out about those Liverpool links for the first time.
“For me and for all of my teams, the work is a collective (effort). But, today, I am very proud to be the sporting director of OGC Nice and proud to work with Fabrice (Bocquet, CEO) and the board.”
Between 2019 and 2022, Ghisolfi played a key role in Lens’ remarkable rise from the second tier of French football to the so-called ‘best of the rest’. Lens finished as runners up last season, returning to the Champions League after two decades away.
Florent Ghisolfi linked with Anfield switch
During spells at both Lens and current employers Nice, Ghisolfi played his part in a series of inspired signings, bringing in the likes of Lois Openda, Kevin Danso, Seko Fofana, Jonathan Clauss and Loic Bade for bargain fees. That keen eye for potential will appeal to a Liverpool side who’s modern success has been built upon signing good players and turning them into great ones, such as Mo Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.
HITC understands that Xabi Alonso, meanwhile, remains their top choice to replace Klopp in the dugout. There is, however, interest in Ruben Amorim, Julien Nagelsmann and Roberto de Zerbi too.
Another shrews Ligue 1 operator, Lens boss and Ghisolfi’s former sparring partner Franck Haisse, has also been mentioned.
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