Liverpool's Search for New Sporting Director: Internal vs External Candidates

Liverpool have opened talks with a series of external candidates in their search for a new sporting director, with Brentford technical director Lee Dykes among those to have held discussions with the club.

Despite those conversations, the expectation inside Anfield points in a different direction. The hierarchy are leaning towards an internal appointment, with current technical director Julian Ward viewed as a leading contender to succeed Richard Hughes, whose move to Al-Hilal was confirmed at the start of the month.

Fenway Sports Group president Mike Gordon is driving the process, sounding out options while weighing up the merits of continuity behind the scenes.

Dykes is one of the most prominent external names under consideration. He has been central to Brentford’s rise and consolidation as a Premier League side since their promotion in 2021, having joined the west London club in May 2019 and helped shape a recruitment model widely praised inside the game.

His work has not gone unnoticed. Brentford sporting director Phil Giles is also highly regarded by Liverpool, although prising him away from his current role is expected to be difficult given his influence and standing at the club.

FSG have held talks with other external candidates beyond Dykes as they test the market and benchmark their internal options, but the growing sense around Liverpool is that the eventual solution may already be in the building.