Meet Liverpool’s new sporting director who’s known for bargain hunting

The German has a history of working within budgets and will be key for the Reds this summer.

Liverpool have reportedly signed a deal with former Wolfsburg director Jorg Schmadtke and fans are starting to wonder who he is and what players he has identified in the past.

With the Reds having one of their most sought-after playmakers in Michael Edwards during Jurgen Klopp’s peak years at the club, there are big shoes to fill following his departure in 2021.

Taking charge not long after, Julian Ward played a key role in bringing on the likes of Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez but chose to leave the club after only a short spell in the role.

Schmadtke has a solid reputation in German football and Klopp has reportedly strongly recommended the club sign the 59-year-old. In the past, he is known to have worked within budgets and has been tasked with finding cheaper deals, an environment in which he will need to feel comfortable managing Liverpool’s savvy transfer budgets. However, he will have more total resources allocated than his previous clubs.
Liverpool have signed Mohamed Salah for £34m, Roberto Firmino for £29m, Sadio Mane for £34m,

Fabinho for £43m, Thiago for £20m and Andy Robertson for £8m – and that it’s cheaper deals for eligible players that Scmadtke will be in charge of signing when he arrives.

For example, he signed Wout Weghorst from AZ Alkmaar when he was at Wolfsburg for a fee of around £10m. The Dutch striker scored over 15 goals in his first two seasons before scoring 20 in his final season before being sold to Burnley for a profit. He also identified Ron-Robert Zieler – a goalkeeper linked with a move to Liverpool this summer to replace Alisson Becker – when he was at Manchester United.

Signed on a free transfer from Hanover, he became a fan favorite during his six years at the club before being sold for a profit and the pair could reunite this summer.

Mame Biram Diouf is another name Premier League fans will know; Schmadtke signed him after a poor performance at United and scored 10 straight from 15 appearances to close out the 2011/12 season.

He finished his career at Hanover with 51 goals in 71 games, then moved to Stoke City on a free transfer.

With better resources at the Merseyside club and their flair for a smart deal, we can see the Reds recruiting smartly this summer, in their most important window for some time.

Also… 

Liverpool Champions League chance is growing amid Callum Wilson admission and Man Utd fixtures

Liverpool should look more to Manchester United in their Champions League run than Newcastle, but the north-east side has provided some encouragement.

Liverpool have won six games and with just three games remaining this season there is still a chance of securing a top four finish.

Qualification for the Champions League seemed impossible not too long ago after a string of poor results, particularly away from home, but Liverpool are all but back in the fray.

With Leicester City (A), Aston Villa (H) and Southampton (A) left to play, there is hope that three more wins – taking the streak to nine – may be enough.

But that would mean that Manchester United have dropped points in at least two games, or Newcastle United have lost twice, with both teams crossing the finish line with the games remaining. Manchester United – who have Wolves, Chelsea and Fulham away and Bournemouth at home – have the toughest run-in, with Newcastle facing Leeds United and Chelsea away and Leicester and Brighton at home.

But the Newcastle squad have little to no experience of such a situation and comments from one of their star players this week could give some insight into the team’s state of mind.

Wherever you are in the world – in the US, UK or elsewhere – you don’t want to miss a thing.

“Liverpool need to relax!” Newcastle striker Callum Wilson said on Football’s latest football podcast. “I said a few weeks ago that I could smell [the Champions League], now that smell is gone. I don’t know where he went. [Sniffles…] I can’t find it

“This game [Newcastle 0-2 Arsenal] shows once again that we still have a long way to go. We have Leeds and Leicester to play and both are in a relegation battle. We need three out of four wins.”

Liverpool.com says: “Newcastle probably only need two out of four wins to get into the Champions League on goal difference to the Reds and they should be able to do that.” But if Wilson – and likely others on the team – are looking over their shoulder, anything can happen under pressure. Liverpool didn’t need any extra encouragement to keep winning and see what happens, but this admission from the Newcastle side should only reinforce the feeling that three more wins might be enough. Just a few weeks ago prediction site 538 put Liverpool’s odds at just 9%, now they are at 29%. Another weekend of good results and the number of Reds will only grow.