On Tuesday morning, it was confirmed that Liverpool had appointed Jorg Schmadtke as their new sporting director. This comes after weeks of speculation and will see him play a key role in the Reds’ transfer business in the upcoming window. After a disappointing 2022/23 campaign, Jurgen Klopp has vowed to be “busy” on his phone as he plans ahead to next season and will be hoping that the support of Schmadtke can help lift his side back to their full potential.
The most pressing priority for Schmadtke is to strengthen the midfield. Liverpool have made just one senior midfield signing since 2018, leaving the side with a severe shortage of players at peak ages in the middle of the park. Along with that, James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have all departed for pastures new without the club recouping a fee. Klopp will be looking to add two or three signings of substantial quality and in an ideal world will want them ready to go on day one after the break.
Another key task for Schmadtke will be to ensure that Liverpool get the best out of Trent Alexander-Arnold. Klopp’s tactical tweak which saw the 24-year-old spend more time in midfield was an almost instant success, sparking a run of seven consecutive wins as the Reds made a late surge for a Champions League spot. The challenge now will be to perfect it and acquire the best players to fit the shape, which could potentially involve looking at the defence. Links to high-quality alternatives are reassuring, and a new contract for Alexander-Arnold is also on the to-do list.
Schmadtke also needs to strike a powerful relationship with Klopp. He has candidly explained that the manager “sets the priorities” in Liverpool’s new structural dynamic, implying that Klopp will have greater influence over transfer dealings than he had while working alongside Michael Edwards and Julian Ward. The two already know each other from their respective spells in the Bundesliga, and it will be key to making all of this tick if they can sing from the same hymn sheet while utilising each other’s areas of expertise.
Finally, Schmadtke needs to address the goalkeeper situation. Liverpool are in the privileged position of currently having perhaps the best goalkeeper on the planet, but beneath that there is a little bit of admin that needs to be carried out. Caoimhin Kelleher’s immediate future is uncertain, with his ability clearly warranting more football than Liverpool can currently offer him. Reports are suggesting that Adrian is set to extend his Anfield stay by a further year, with target Ron-Robert Zieler looking increasingly likely to stay at Hannover despite interest from the Reds. If Liverpool’s current second-choice goalkeeper is to leave this summer, sufficient back-up will be required to fill his place.
Schmadtke also needs to consider his own future. Securing a short-term replacement for Ward is unquestionably beneficial for this summer, but Liverpool need some stability and that must come from the top down. If this iteration of Liverpool is to be as successful as the last there needs to be a clear sense of direction for all concerned, and preparing for that era is part of Schmadtke’s role. As things stand, his deal can be extended if it is in the interests of all parties, but if this is the route Liverpool want to go down they could do with consolidating that sooner rather than later.