Liverpool won’t be appointing Paul Mitchell as their new sporting director as he is now expected to stay with Ligue 1 side Monaco.
That’s according to The Athletic, who claim that Mitchell was ‘strongly considered’ for the Liverpool role.
Michael Edwards left his post as Liverpool’s sporting director last summer and his replacement Julian Ward has already outlined his plans to leave this summer.
That leaves Liverpool once again looking for another sporting director and Englishman Edwards appeared to be on the radar.
However, Mitchell is now expected to stay at Monaco until his contract expires in 2024, and is even expected to find his own replacement.
That means a move to Liverpool seemingly won’t be on the cards for this summer and the Reds will have to look elsewhere.
Paul Mitchell could have been a strong appointment for Liverpool
Mitchell, 41, hails from Stalybridge and spent his formative years in his playing career with Wigan Athletic, so a return to the North West may have appealed.
Mitchell had roles with MK Dons and Southampton but really made a name for himself at Tottenham Hotspur.
Deals for Toby Alderweireld, Dele Alli and Son Heung-min shaped Mauricio Pochettino’s squad before he decided to leave in 2018.
Mitchell moved to RB Leipzig and helped secure the likes of Amadou Haidara, Nordi Mukiele, Christopher Nkunku and even Ademola Lookman.
After working across the Red Bull group, Mitchell moved on to Monaco in 2020 and has done some pretty impressive work.
Axel Disasi, Caio Henrique, Krepin Diatta, Vanderson, Breel Embolo and Mohamed Camara have all arrived during Mitchell’s time as sporting director.
That allows Monaco to sit third in Ligue 1, just seven points off Paris Saint-Germain and two behind Marseille.
Mitchell did strike a £15.4million deal to sign Takumi Minamino from Liverpool over the summer, which has yet to really pay vididends for Monaco.
Maybe Mitchell is still a name to keep an eye on moving forward, but it looks like Liverpool will have to go elsewhere for a new recruitment chief.
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