Liverpool had a lead over Premier League arch-rivals Manchester United on Monday night on the January transfer. When PSV Eindhoven declared that Cody Gakpo was for sale, Liverpool signed him before Manchester United could get their hands on him.
As for Liverpool, Julian Ward will step down as sporting director next summer. His tenure has been short, as he carried out his responsibilities for only one season.
The Anfield boss sprang into action after Michael Edward stepped down earlier this year. Julian Ward has worked hard in many of his roles for over a decade. Therefore, his break with the world of football is justified despite the fact that the club is not happy with the decision.
After taking over from Edwards, Julian was instrumental in his work for Liverpool. The club wowed everyone in the January transfer window earlier this year. Out of nowhere, Liverpool signed Luis Díaz from Porto.
At the time, Liverpool outplayed Tottenham to seal this deal. Ward was behind this smart move. Apparently this time they beat arch-rivals Manchester City before the January 2023 transfer window.
Cody Gakpo deal details
On Monday night, Dutch striker Cody Gakpo was sued again, before Liverpool reached an agreement with the footballer for 37 million euros. For now, the fees could increase to 45 million euros taking add-ons into account.
This deal came as a surprise in the football community, as Manchester United seemed closer to acquiring the deal.
But Liverpool edged out Erik ten Hag’s side in contention to sign Cody Gakpo. Added to the fact that it was Jurgen Klopp’s request, Virgil van Dijk played a pivotal role in convincing his national team counterpart to join him.
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Ward reportedly brokered the deal, allowing it to be completed within 2 days of negotiation between the clubs. The winning move Ward played was to offer to pay most of the amount up front.
On the contrary, Manchester United presented a structured forward agreement, which allowed their rivals to take the lead.
As Julian Ward is about to leave the party, Liverpool will have to find their alternative for next summer.
