I’m Warming To Liverpool’s Julian Ward And Lee Dykes Plan

For weeks I’ve been saying that Liverpool need to look outside their own walls when replacing Richard Hughes. I didn’t want another familiar face promoted, recycled or moved around the building. I wanted somebody coming in with fresh ideas, a different perspective and, ideally, a track record of finding value before the rest of football catches up.

So when Julian Ward’s name started being pushed towards the front of the queue, I wasn’t particularly enthusiastic. This would effectively be the third time Liverpool have turned to him in one form or another, and my immediate reaction was simple: surely there is somebody else out there?

But the more information that emerges about what Liverpool might actually be planning, the more interesting it becomes.

If the idea is Ward alongside Lee Dykes, rather than Ward being handed complete control and everybody carrying on as before, I can see the logic. In fact, I’m starting to think it could be exactly the type of compromise Liverpool need.

I Want Fresh Thinking Alongside Experience

Sky Sports have reported that Liverpool are seriously considering Ward for the sporting director position while also discussing the possibility of bringing somebody in alongside him as technical director, with Brentford’s Dykes among the names in the frame.

That changes the conversation for me.

Ward obviously knows Liverpool. He knows the structure, the people and the expectations. There is value in that, even if I remain uncomfortable with this constant habit of going back to people who have already been part of the operation. What appeals to me about Dykes is that he represents something different.

Brentford have built an excellent reputation for data-led recruitment. They operate differently to Liverpool, of course, and their ownership structure gives them certain advantages with access to data, but I like the principle. Find undervalued players, understand exactly what characteristics you need and make decisions based on evidence rather than reputation.

That sounds very Liverpool, or at least it sounds like the Liverpool I remember at our recruitment best.

If Ward provides continuity and Dykes brings an outside perspective, perhaps there is something genuinely exciting in that combination. My concern would be what happens six or 12 months down the line. With the ownership picture potentially changing through 1892 Holdings, I don’t want Liverpool appointing people now only to rip everything up again when new voices become more influential.

We’ve had enough turnover in this position. Whoever gets these jobs needs an opportunity to build something.

Liverpool Need To Find Value Again

This is also why I keep coming back to the type of players Liverpool should be targeting.

I love having Alexander Isak at the club. I’m delighted we have Bradley Barcola and I still desperately want Florian Wirtz to succeed. But there has to be a balance to recruitment.

You cannot keep assembling an attack of £100m-plus footballers and expect the pressure surrounding them to disappear. Every bad game becomes a crisis. Every missed chance gets attached to a transfer fee. Every quiet month becomes a debate about whether somebody is a flop.

Victor Muñoz is almost the perfect example of the other side of it. Liverpool paid around £35m and he has been allowed to settle, learn and develop without every touch becoming some referendum on whether the transfer was worthwhile.

That is why I’m torn on Yankuba Minteh.

I can understand why Liverpool remain interested. He’s young, quick, Premier League tested and gives you that left-footed inverted option from the right that Iraola appears to want. At around £60m, I could see the logic. Once we start getting towards £80m, I’m out. At that price you’re moving into territory where I’d rather push further for somebody genuinely elite.

Liverpool need to rediscover that middle ground, and a data-led recruitment team should be able to help us do it.

Find me players before they cost £100m.

Camara Is Still My January Priority

If you gave me one signing in January, I’m still choosing Lamine Camara.

Nothing has changed there.

We need a midfielder with his profile, and the fact Liverpool retain an interest tells me the club understand that as well. From what I’ve been told, there has been an outline agreement with the player’s representatives over a potential package, although I’m not aware of any club-to-club talks with Monaco at this stage.

Chelsea remain interested as well, and Monaco will naturally want competition because competition drives the price upwards.

But this is where Liverpool have to be decisive.

Camara’s press resistance really stands out to me. I’ve seen supporters of opposition teams in France talking about how difficult he is to get near in midfield, and when I look at some of the problems we’ve had with balance, physicality and controlling games, his profile makes sense.

Trey Nyoni could complicate that conversation in the best possible way. I’m fascinated to see how much football he gets between now and January because he continues to look increasingly comfortable around the first team. If he forces himself into Iraola’s thinking every week, perhaps Liverpool reassess exactly what they need.

But right now, Camara remains the player I’d prioritise.

We have spaces in midfield. Curtis Jones has gone, Stefan Bajcetic has moved on and Wataru Endo looks increasingly likely to leave. Liverpool don’t need to sell Mac Allister or Gravenberch to justify strengthening there. We need depth and genuine competition.

Jacquet Shows Liverpool Can Still Get It Right

The encouraging thing is that we only have to look at our own defence to see what good recruitment can achieve.

Jeremy Jacquet has been magnificent. Ronald Araújo has surprised me with how comfortable he has looked at right back. Liverpool have kept three consecutive Premier League clean sheets and suddenly I’m far more relaxed about that side of the pitch than I expected to be.

Jacquet in particular looks like an outstanding piece of business. He has settled ridiculously quickly and, alongside Virgil van Dijk, already looks more consistent to me than Konaté did at times. That doesn’t mean there isn’t another decision coming. If Virgil leaves at the end of the season, I still think Liverpool need an experienced centre-back somewhere around that 26 to 28 age bracket because Jacquet, Leoni and the other young defenders cannot be expected to replace all of Virgil’s experience overnight.

That is exactly the type of squad planning I want the next sporting director structure thinking about now, not when the problem arrives.

Liverpool have some extraordinary talent. Isak has four goals in five Premier League games, Jacquet looks like he could become something special and Iraola has become the first Liverpool manager since Joe Fagan in 1983 to remain unbeaten through his opening five league matches.

There is plenty to be optimistic about.

Now the people above Iraola have to give him the structure to succeed.

I’m still not completely sold on simply turning back to Julian Ward. But Ward alongside somebody like Lee Dykes, with genuine authority, fresh thinking and a renewed commitment to intelligent, data-led recruitment?

That I can get behind.

Just make the decision properly, give them the authority to do the job and, for once, give Liverpool some stability behind the scenes.

Much Love.