Julian Ward has returned to Liverpool as sporting director and is already facing a number of important items on the Reds' agenda. Following the departure of Richard Hughes to Al-Hilal - the latest in a long line of significant changes at Anfield in recent years - Reds bosses have turned to the familiar.
The 45-year-old's association with Liverpool stretches back more than 14 years, while he previously served as sporting director during the 2022/23 season. However, after succeeding Michael Edwards, he confirmed his decision to depart after just one year midway through the campaign.
Ward still oversaw a busy tenure, with the arrival of eight new players at Anfield - including then club-record signing Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo and Alexis Mac Allister - while he also helped close a new long-term contract for Mohamed Salah after months of speculation about the Egyptian's future.
Transfer business and squad gaps
Three years on and Ward is back in the hotseat, having served as FSG technical director for the past two years. With a new era at Anfield already underway under Andoni Iraola, the 45-year-old's priority in the months ahead is clear.
Transfers are a big part of any sporting director's remit, and it will be no different for Ward this time around. While Liverpool parted with roughly £225m on new signings during his first stint, the club has been rather more active over the past two years under Hughes. Agreeing 16 incoming deals at a combined cost worth up to over £700m, a look at Iraola's squad and it can be argued that the revamp of the Reds' ranks is not yet complete.
Salah was not replaced by a natural right-winger during the summer, having terminated his contract a year early to depart on a free transfer, with the retention of Gakpo and arrivals of Bradley Barcola and Victor Munoz leaving Liverpool with four widemen that favour playing on the left wing. Question marks about the Reds' options at right-back persist, despite Ronald Araujo's impressive start to his loan move from FC Barcelona, with Conor Bradley a long-term injury absentee and Jeremie Frimpong still yet to convince in the Premier League.
On the opposing flank, Kostas Tsimikas returned from a season-long loan at AS Roma to provide cover for Milos Kerkez. But out of contract at the end of the season, it would not be a surprise if Liverpool need to address the position again next summer. Meanwhile, the Reds' engine-room has been the subject of ongoing debate with opposing sides finding it far too easy at times to play through Liverpool's midfield. Eyebrows will be raised if that is not addressed in some form over the next year - even if Trey Nyoni could emerge as an internal solution.
Contract dilemmas for key stars
It remains to be seen whether the Reds will look to strengthen in January, having kept their permitted Champions League squad changes free by selecting the likes of the injured Bradley and Hugo Ekitike in their European ranks, or whether they will keep their powder dry for the summer. Yet there is perhaps a more pressing matter at Liverpool than just further recruitment, with a number of big-name players out of contract over the next two years. Transfers are just the tip of the iceberg.
While it would be no surprise if Tsimikas departed as a Bosman, and the same is true for Joe Gomez and Wataru Endo who are also out of contract next summer, Reds bosses have bigger decisions to make regarding the futures of Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker. Van Dijk's and Alisson's own terms expire at the end of the season, and while Liverpool have seemingly future-proofed both positions with the arrivals of Jeremy Jacquet, Giovanni Leoni, Ifeanyi Ndukwe and Lucca Brughmans, a decision needs to be made regarding whether it is time to complete the passing of the baton.
It will be a big decision for Ward, who now leads the Reds' football operation, working with assistant sporting director David Woodfine, chief scout Barry Hunter, FSG director of football development Pedro Marques and the wider senior leadership team across the AXA Training Centre and Academy. But deciding whether either modern club legend has more still to give at Anfield or not is one thing, agreeing new contracts with both is another matter entirely. Meanwhile, if the pair are now navigating their final season as Liverpool players, club management must decide whether the next generation are fully ready to fill such a void, or if more experienced heads will also be required in the interim.
Mac Allister, Chiesa, and Ngumoha futures
There are further contract decisions beyond next summer too, with Alexis Mac Allister having gone on the record more than once to speak about his own situation ahead of his own deal running out in 2028. The Argentina international would like to stay put, but now 27 years old, Ward must weigh up whether the midfielder - who has returned to form this season after a disappointing campaign last time out - deserves a new deal. If not, do the Reds retain him for the final two years of his contract before losing him for nothing or try to cash in next summer?
Federico Chiesa is also out of contract in 2028 and, having remained on the fringes throughout his time on Merseyside, Liverpool must surely look to cash in on the Italian sooner rather than later. Then there is Rio Ngumoha, who had been tipped to sign a new, improved contract after celebrating his 18th birthday in August. Yet an agreement has not yet been reached, and he has found himself linked to Arsenal in recent weeks. Securing his future will be high on Ward's to-do list following his reappointment.
Meanwhile, even though Gakpo is under contract until 2030, the subject of the Dutchman's own future remains open to question. He has started the season in eye-catching form after the Reds decided against selling him to Man City - rejecting an £80m bid in the process. But having signed Barcola to essentially replace him on the left, he would have been sold if Liverpool had been successful in their efforts to acquire a new right-winger. One suspects such a search is not yet over, even if the decision to retain Gakpo has already paid off, with his future likely to come under question again in 2027.
Ownership speculation and Ward's long-term role
Yet Gakpo's future is not the only elephant in the room, with Ward's return also adding further intrigue regarding the future at Anfield. While his return brings with it stability, the jury remains out on whether his reappointment is a long-term hire or instead a decision to coincide with a gradual handing over of the keys by FSG.
Amit Bhatia became the club's new vice-chairman last month after leading a consortium featuring Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin in purchasing a 38% stake in the club. As part of the deal, the group reportedly has an agreement in place to buy a controlling stake in the club in 2027 if FSG decide to sell-up or reduce their shareholding.
Speculation about the long-term ownership of Liverpool will persist as a result, with Ward's placement heading up footballing operations only adding to it. He is an ideal candidate to lead the Reds into their next chapter. But only time will tell whether Ward is a familiar face and stable hands manning the fort ahead of potential further change, should FSG indeed depart, or if his return will prove to be rather more long-term than his previous appointment.
