Well, Julian Ward certainly isn’t walking into an easy job.
If, as expected, Ward returns as Liverpool’s sporting director, he is going to have an awful lot on his plate.
Richard Hughes has gone.
The summer transfer window is closed.
And while Andoni Iraola can concentrate on what happens on the pitch, Ward will have to start dealing with some hugely important decisions away from it.
There is no shortage of work.
And some of it can’t wait forever.
First up: Rio Ngumoha
For me, one of the biggest jobs on Ward’s desk has to be Rio Ngumoha’s future.
Liverpool have already shown how highly they rate the teenager.
He’s now attracting attention from elsewhere, with Arsenal and Bayern Munich among the clubs reported to be monitoring his situation. Liverpool are understood to want to keep him, but reports have also suggested that progress on an improved contract has been limited.
This is exactly the sort of situation where Ward needs to be proactive.
Ngumoha is still incredibly young, but we’ve already seen enough to understand why Liverpool are so excited about him.
And now he’s an England international.
That changes the conversation.
Liverpool need to make sure Rio understands that his pathway at Anfield is there.
Don’t wait until other clubs start knocking seriously on the door.
Get ahead of it.
Then there are two huge contracts
And this is where things get really interesting.
Virgil van Dijk.
Alisson Becker.
Two of the most important players Liverpool have had during the modern era.
Both are approaching the final stages of their current contracts, meaning Ward will have some enormous decisions to make regarding the future of two players who have been absolutely central to Liverpool’s success.
Van Dijk isn’t simply another centre-back.
He’s the captain.
He’s the leader.
And even at this stage of his career, his importance to Liverpool’s defence remains obvious.
Then there’s Alisson.
I’ve already said how strongly I feel that Liverpool should be looking at giving him another contract.
His performance levels remain exceptional and, as we’ve seen already this season, there are still moments when he produces saves that can win football matches.
Ward will need to work out the balance between experience, finances and planning for the future.
That’s not an easy job.
January is already coming into view
Then comes the January transfer window.
And this is where Ward will need to quickly get up to speed with what Iraola wants.
Liverpool’s summer spending was enormous, but that doesn’t mean the squad is suddenly perfect.
There are still questions in midfield.
There are still decisions to be made around the defensive depth.
And injuries can completely change a club’s priorities between now and January.
The Lamine Camara situation is one example of the sort of thing Liverpool could have to consider, with the Monaco midfielder already linked with a potential move to Anfield.
Ward will need to work closely with Iraola.
Not simply ask:
“Who do you want?”
But:
“What does this squad need to play the football you want?”
That’s the important question.
And then there is 1892 Holdings…
This is the part that could make Ward’s job even more complicated.
Liverpool’s ownership structure is changing.
FSG has agreed a deal to sell a significant minority stake to 1892 Holdings, a consortium led by Amit Bhatia and including investors such as Jeff Bezos and Eduardo Saverin.
Reports state that 1892 Holdings also has an option to purchase Liverpool outright within the next 12 months.
So while Ward will be getting on with his job, there could potentially be much bigger changes happening around him.
What does that ultimately mean for the football operation?
We don’t know yet.
And that’s why I think it’s probably best to wait and see.
If 1892 Holdings eventually takes full control, then obviously the structure and decision-making at the club could change.
But for now, Ward has a job to do.
There’s a lot more continuity than it might appear
One reason Ward’s return makes sense is that he already knows Liverpool.
This isn’t someone arriving from outside who has to learn how the club operates.
Ward previously held the sporting director role during the 2022/23 season and has remained within the wider FSG structure since returning as technical director in 2024.
He was involved in the recruitment of players including Darwin Núñez and Cody Gakpo and played an important role in the arrivals of Luis Díaz and Alexis Mac Allister.
So he knows the environment.
He knows the recruitment structure.
He knows the academy.
And he knows what it means to work at Liverpool.
That should help him hit the ground running.
But he can’t afford to stand still
That’s the bit that interests me most.
Ward doesn’t have months to sit down and work out what Liverpool are.
He’s coming into the job with decisions already waiting.
Rio’s contract.
Van Dijk’s future.
Alisson’s future.
January recruitment.
Squad planning.
And potentially an ownership change sitting somewhere in the background.
That’s an awful lot for one sporting director to deal with.
But that’s the job.
And if Liverpool are going to continue moving forward under Iraola, the recruitment and contract side of the club needs to be just as well organised as what happens on the pitch.
I actually think Ward’s biggest challenge isn’t necessarily signing another £100m player.
It’s making sure Liverpool don’t lose the players they absolutely want to keep while identifying exactly where Iraola’s squad still needs strengthening.
He’s got plenty to sort out.
And he needs to get moving.
Because January will be here before we know it.
Jamie (The Kopite View)
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