Former Liverpool sport director Julian Ward targeted by Al Ittihad just months after Saudi Pro League side failed in £150m bid to sign Mo Salah

• Julian Ward shocked Liverpool by stepping down at the end of last season
• He was replaced on short-term basis by experienced German Jorg Schmadtke 
• Jeremy Doku had Trent Alexander-Arnold on toast for most of the game, how COULD Gary Neville make him man of the match? Listen to It’s All Kicking Off 

Former Liverpool sport director Julian Ward has emerged as a target for Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad.

The Jeddah-based club, who failed with a £150million bid to sign Liverpool striker Mo Salah in August, want a skilled sporting director to aid their recruitment and support new head coach Marcelo Gallardo.

The 42-year old Ward shocked Liverpool last year by announcing he would be stepping down from his role at the end of last season just months after replacing the revered Michael Edwards.

Ward continued to help bring in new signings and was key to landing the likes of World Cup winner Alexis MacAllister from Brighton in the summer.

He was replaced on a short-term basis by experienced German Jorg Schmadtke and Liverpool are weighing up another appointment for the New Year.

Julian Ward (above) shocked Liverpool by stepping down at the end of last season

Al Ittihad failed with a £150m bid to sign Liverpool striker Mo Salah in August

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Ward, who joined Liverpool in 2012 as European scouting manager for Spain and Portugal, was among the sporting director candidates targeted by Ajax last March but opted to bide his time and assess his options.

Al Ittihad are fourth in the Saudi Pro League and boast former Liverpool midfielder Fabinho in their ranks along with N’Golo Kante, formerly of Chelsea and ex-Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema.

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