Michael Edwards will leave Liverpool with a very heavy heart this summer.
When his contract expires in June, the long-serving Liverpool sporting director will be moving on to different projects.
Under his stewardship, the Anfield outfit have pulled off an array of stunning transfers.
Whether it’s incomings or outgoings, Edwards has quite often ensured that the Reds got much the better of the bargain.
However, the concept of legacy is no doubt important to him and with so many of his signings either already over 30 or approaching it – like Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah – he might want to plant one more seed and play some sort of role in the cultivation of Liverpool’s next great team.
And bringing Jules Kounde to Merseyside would be one hell of a farewell present – and one that could set the English giants up to dominate.
Legacy
According to Marca, Liverpool are interested in the Sevilla powerhouse defender, who has a £70 million release clause.
Ibrahima Konate has already dazzled in central defence since Edwards signed him last summer and if the Kounde speculation is accurate, well that’s a stupidly-strong centre-back pairing, with a combined age of only 45.
Remember, Konate and Kounde are also French and if things go well the duo could provide the bedrock of Les Bleus’ defence going forward.
In the short term, Kounde would also allow German manager Jurgen Klopp to experiment with a three-man defence, including Virgil van Dijk – their club-record signing from 2018 – but long term, these two French lads could make every major European club envious of Liverpool for their stability.
Even if he leaves Merseyside tomorrow, Edwards’ legacy is preserved and he’ll always be remembered as the mysterious genius in the shadows of Liverpool’s success under Klopp.
But just like Klopp, Edwards will always keep one eye on the future and it’s plausible that he wants to do as much as he can for the Reds, even long after he has left the club.
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