Jorg Schmadtke has already lined up Ron-Robert Zieler as his first Liverpool signing
New Liverpool sporting director Jorg Schmadtke is ready to sign his first contract with the Red Devils.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool are "very close" to appointing Schmadtke as their next sporting director.
The Merseyside regional club have been looking for work since Julian Ward announced he would leave the job in November, just months after officially replacing Michael Edwards.
Schmadtke, who served as a goalkeeper during his playing years, recently served as Wolfsburg's sporting director general for five years before leaving in early February.
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And according to Romano:
"Liverpool are now set to appoint Jorg Schmadtke as their new sporting director. Deal is imminent - he got the role.
"[The] former Wolfsburg manager will be working on a new project/contract with Jurgen Klopp, who will still play a key role in the transfer strategy."
Liverpool are gearing up for a busy summer, after going through a tough campaign with poor form and injuries. While the club appear to have prioritized midfield in the next transfer window, the first signing of the Schmadtke era could be a goalkeeper.
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Schmadtke's first signing
According to Bild, veteran goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler is being prioritized by Liverpool.
The Anfield club is likely to enter the market for a favorite of Allison Becker this summer, with the futures of Adrian and Caoimhin Kelleher in doubt. According to the German publication, a move to Liverpool would be "financially attractive" for Zieler, who previously worked under Schmadtke in Hanover.
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Indeed, while Schmadtke was Hanover's sporting director, Zieler was signed from Manchester United in 2010.
And while the 34-year-old goalkeeper extended his contract with Hannover for another year in March, he would be disappointed if the Bundesliga side didn't offer him a longer deal.
In contrast, Zieler, part of Germany's 2014 World Cup-winning team, is expected to trade Lower Saxony for Merseyside in the upcoming transfer window.
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