Journalist: How Liverpool almost signed Alexander Isak back in 2022 | OneFootball

Power Balance Questions Resurface Amid Edwards and Ward Return

Supporter debates over Liverpool’s internal workings rarely stay quiet for long, and one recent query has struck a nerve. Moe J. posed a theory that has bubbled beneath the surface for some time. Did Jürgen Klopp seize greater control of transfers when Michael Edwards and Julian Ward departed, only for the former recruitment chiefs to reappear once Klopp confirmed his exit?

Credit must go to James Pearce of The Athletic, who tackled the subject with trademark clarity. His response offered valuable insight into how Liverpool’s hierarchy has evolved across eras of immense success and internal strain.

Growing Influence Behind Key Decisions

“It’s certainly fair to say that with longevity and success, Klopp’s influence increased across a host of different areas, including recruitment.” That line alone tells a story. As Liverpool’s trophy haul expanded, so did Klopp’s authority. The most striking example offered was the signing of Darwin Nunez in 2022, which “was predominantly pushed by Klopp.”

Pearce referenced former director of research Ian Graham who claimed “that wasn’t a data-driven decision.” That nugget will fascinate supporters who’ve long viewed Liverpool as the gold standard for analytics-led recruitment. According to Pearce, “Christopher Nkunku … and Alexander Isak … were two of the alternative names put forward.”

That trio now reads like a sliding-doors moment in Liverpool history. Nkunku ended up at Chelsea and Isak went to Newcastle, before eventually arriving at Anfield this summer under Arne Slot in a record-breaking £125m move.

Photo: IMAGO

Exit Motivations Clarified

Importantly, Pearce poured cold water on the idea of a toxic split. “There was friction at times, but no big bust-ups that I’m aware of.” For all the speculation of power struggles, the exits were rooted in human fatigue rather than political rupture. “Both Edwards and Ward stepped down … because they felt exhausted after over a decade of service to Liverpool and needed a break.”

Edwards’ eventual return was not a reaction to Klopp stepping aside. Instead, “he returned because Mike Gordon effectively offered him his own job, running FSG’s entire football operations.” That is a clear elevation rather than a restoration.

Second Club Vision Driving Ward

Ward’s comeback was similarly strategic. “He came on board as FSG technical director because he was excited at the prospect of working with Edwards again and, in particular, the chance to help identify and then run a second club.” That final line points towards the future rather than a re-run of the past.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

Klopp was the most powerful figure at the club, his track record gave him every right to push harder on transfers, and the Nunez example proves that gut instinct occasionally overrode the spreadsheets.

But here’s the exciting part. Liverpool are now in a rare position where the three pillars are aligned again. Michael Edwards has been promoted, not reinstated. Julian Ward is relishing a broader remit involving multi-club strategy. And Arne Slot has inherited a structure willing to empower rather than restrain.

If anything, the real lesson from Pearce’s report is that Liverpool are evolving beyond the Klopp model. With Slot winning the Premier League in year one, selling Nunez for £50m and landing Isak for £125m, the data-driven dream is no longer just a slogan. It is back with fresh energy and more ambition than before.

The question now is not who holds the power, but how that power is used. And Liverpool fans should be very encouraged by who occupies the seats at the table.