Monaco sporting director Paul Mitchell breaks silence on his future amid Liverpool links | OneFootball

Paul Mitchell insists he's currently focussed on finishing his stint with Monaco successfully amid reports that he could become Liverpool or Manchester United's sporting director.

The 41-year-old transfer guru is highly regarded for his work over the years and has been tipped to replace the outgoing Julian Ward in recent weeks, who looks set to join Eredivisie giants Ajax after the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign. As cited by The Liverpool Echo via Anfield Watch's Twitter account, Mitchell said most of what's being said about him in the media should be taken with a pinch of salt as he carefully considers his next move.

“Everything that is currently being said in the press isn’t necessarily true. My responsibility is to concentrate on Monaco and I take that very seriously.

"Whether or not I’m appreciated, I have always put the interests of the club above my own. I am going to continue to do that. Life is a question of timing. You can never say never, but I want to leave this project on a solid footing."

Mitchell will leave Monaco at the end of the season, but with a handful of other top European clubs in the running to secure his signature, it remains to be seen if Liverpool snap him up.

ANFIELD WATCH VERDICT

Paul Mitchell is one of the most sought-after sporting directors in world football and has worked with clubs like Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and RB Leipzig, so he's undoubtedly one of the best in the business at what he does. With Liverpool in desperate need of fresh faces - particularly in midfield - his connections and knowledge in the transfer market could be crucial to how the Reds' summer transfer window pans out.

Michael Edwards was clearly the best in the world during his time at Liverpool and Julian Ward has had his ups and downs, but Liverpool need to make sure they get this one right as they look to build another competitive team. Mitchell certainly ticks a lot of boxes, so this is worth keeping an eye on.