Real Madrid are reportedly targeting Liverpool's transfer guru Michael Edwards next summer as they look to revolutionise their side.
That would be a mammoth blow for the Reds, who have benefitted from his massive impact in the transfer market in recent years.
Edwards' contract is up in the summer and there appears to be little chance of a renewal, report The Athletic, who state that he has told Liverpool that he has no interest in signing new terms.
The 41-year-old has been commended as the man to have masterminded such transfers including Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Alisson.
His dealings in the transfer window have made the Anfield outfit a force to be reckoned with in Europe.
With Jurgen Klopp at the helm, Liverpool won the Premier League and the Champions League and have their eyes on further prizes.
But Edwards' impending departure has alerted Real Madrid, reports The Sun, who are desperate to bring in some new faces of their own.
Los Blancos have been linked with some absolute superstars in recent weeks, including Kylian Mbappe, Paul Pogba and Erling Haaland.
And they want Edwards fronting the offers after already pulling off some majestic deals on Merseyside.
Real have often been linked with the likes of Salah, Mane and others that Liverpool have signed over the last five years.
So instead of looking at the players, the Spanish giants are now more interested in the brains behind the transfers.
Madrid have made some costly errors in the market in recent years, perhaps no more bigger than Eden Hazard - who was brought in for £100m from Chelsea.
Yet a string of injuries have reduced the Belgian to a bit-part player, whereas there have been further shoddy dealings for the likes of Luka Jovic, Rodrygo and Reinier.
With some potentially vital transfers on the line this summer, it is imperative that Real have the right man handling them - and Edwards could be their man.
However, he could yet sign a new deal with Liverpool while Klopp appeared unperturbed by the news.
"We've worked together for six years and I don't think I've had a different sporting director," the German said.
"But it's not my decision to do these kinds of things, so I don't know.
"You need to ask other people about this, but over contracts, we don't discuss, right. So I will not start now with the sporting director.
"That's really interesting, I've never spoken before about the contract of a sporting director.
"If it was my point of view, if it expires next year, which I didn't know exactly, I will think about that next year and not now."
