Liverpool sporting director update clears way for Newcastle to replace Dan Ashworth.

Liverpool are also looking for a new sporting director, following Manchester United’s attempts to sign Newcastle’s Dan Ashworth.

According to sources, West Ham United technical director Tim Steidten is not among the applicants vying for Liverpool’s open sporting director position.

Short-term appointment. Jorg Schmadtke left Anfield at the end of the January transfer window, leaving the club with another critical decision to make before the summer, as well as replacing departing manager Jurgen Klopp.

Last week, reports linked Steidten to the position, which piqued the interest of many Reds fans considering the German’s significant involvement in hiring Xabi Alonso to the Bayer Leverkusen job in 2022.

Steidten later stated that being on the radar of a team of Liverpool’s status would be ‘an honour’.

However, football journalist Ben Jacobs, who initially broke the news of Steidten’s move to West Ham last summer, informed GiveMeSport that Steidten is not a possibility for Liverpool, despite claims.

“So, if he wants to leave West Ham and remain in the Premier League, he will not move to Anfield. It’s a little too early to start putting names out there.

“Newcastle are first dealing with the final stages of [Dan] Ashworth’s exit and then and only then will they start talking to other candidates.”

It’s unclear whether that final paragraph should be interpreted as Steidten potentially being of interest to Newcastle United, although they’ll be looking for a replacement for sporting director Ashworth if he leaves to assume the identical post at Manchester United.
Ashworth has been placed on gardening leave at St James’ Park while talks between the two clubs continue.

The’small thing’ I noticed at Newcastle United’s training field last week that explains why Dan Ashworth’s likely exit to Manchester United is a ‘big thing.