Liverpool owners close to hiring technical director involved in Darwin Nunez transfer

Liverpool's owners, Fenway Sports Group, are closing in on the signing of Benfica director Pedro Marques as they seek to continue their restructure ahead of Jurgen Klopp's summer departure.

With Klopp leaving at the end of the season and sporting director Jorg Schmadtke stepping down earlier this year, FSG have been working tirelessly to set themselves up in a new direction. Michael Edwards, former director of football at Liverpool, has returned to FSG in a higher role that will oversee management of Liverpool, rather than working for the Reds directly.

Next up on the agenda is Marques who, like Edwards, is expected to join FSG in a role which could see him given wider influence across the company.

With FSG now exploring a multi-club model of their own, The Athletic state they have made a move to hire Marques, who is already familiar to Liverpool. Reds officials dealt with Marques in negotiations over Darwin Nunez, while further back, he operated as an analyst in the same Manchester City staff room as former Liverpool sporting director Julian Ward during his days as a scout.

It is Marques' experience in connection with City which has appealed to Liverpool. He took on a coaching and analyst role for the wider City Football Group - the model which FSG are now looking to follow.

It was previously reported that Marques would be involved in the search for a new club and would then play a role in FSG's management of that side, rather than operating directly with Liverpool.

Closer to home, Liverpool have already struck a deal to hire sporting director Richard Hughes from Bournemouth at the end of the season.

There could be further hires made behind the scenes at Anfield, although reports have conflicted over whether there is any interest in Southampton's Jason Wilcox, who is a target for Manchester United.

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