Liverpool’s Julian Ward is in the picture to become the new technical director of Ajax. This is reported by De Telegraaf. The team from Amsterdam has been searching on a technical level since the departure of Marc Overmars.
Ward announced in November of last year that he wanted to leave Liverpool at the end of the season. That was surprising, because the 41-year-old Englishman had only just been promoted internally. The technical man was moved on after sporting director Michael Edwards left The Reds at the end of last season.
Due to competition agreements in Ward’s contract, a departure of the policymaker from England is obvious. He is now in the picture for the much-discussed vacancy in Amsterdam. Overmars left Ajax a year ago after transgressive behaviour. The club then opted for a temporary solution with Gerry Hamstra and Klaas Jan Huntelaar as a duo. General director Edwin van der Sar said on Monday evening that he hopes that a solution will be found for the position of technical director within two months.
Ronald Koeman’s verdict on Liverpool’s Gakpo
Sticking with Liverpool, Cody Gakpo was one of the stars for the Orange at the World Cup in Qatar, but has not yet found his feet at Liverpool. National coach Ronald Koeman also sees this.
Koeman was a guest on Tuesday in a new episode Bij Andy in de Auto, a YouTube show by former professional footballer Andy van der Meijde. Of course, the national coach mainly has an eye for the performance of (potential) internationals. “And young players who go abroad, such as Gakpo,” says Koeman. “That’s all good, of course, because the level in England is higher than in the Netherlands, but they are also young boys, aren’t they? Like Gravenberch going to Bayern and not playing. Then that is difficult.”
Koeman then argues that Liverpool is less than in previous years and that this does not benefit Gakpo’s game. He mentions, “You can see that he didn’t end up in a team that is running super well. Then it also becomes more difficult for him, as a new purchase. Then you will be tested right away. If you don’t score or you’re not important and you don’t win any matches… It’s very difficult, especially for a young player. If that’s someone aged 28 with experience… But he’s a young player, new there.”
Manager Jürgen Klopp is still holding on to Gakpo, who always started his first six games at Liverpool in the base. The former PSV player is still waiting for his first goal in the shirt of The Reds.
