Liverpool are interested in appointing Bayern Munich chief Christoph Freund as their new sporting director.
Liverpool are eyeing Christoph Freund, Bayern Munich’s sporting director, as they assess potential candidates to replace Richard Hughes, although an internal appointment remains the most likely outcome at Anfield.
According to TEAMtalk, Fenway Sports Group had already started planning for Hughes’s departure before the sporting director officially left Liverpool, with the ownership group assessing a number of possible replacements.
Hughes stepped down after more than two years in the role, having remained in post throughout the summer transfer window to oversee Liverpool’s planned recruitment before joining Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia. The Reds expected his departure, with FSG aware for some time that he intended to leave and had begun considering alternatives before his exit was completed.
FSG president Mike Gordon is now overseeing the search and is considering candidates from both within Liverpool’s existing football structure and the wider market. Julian Ward, David Woodfine, Matt Newberry, and Pedro Marques are among the internal figures being assessed.
However, Liverpool have also examined several senior football executives from across Europe and the Premier League, with Freund emerging as one of the more prominent continental names discussed.
The 49-year-old is highly regarded across European football following his successful work with Red Bull Salzburg and Bayern Munich. He moved to Bayern in 2023 after building a strong reputation in Austria and has since held a key position within the German club’s sporting structure.
Liverpool will struggle to appoint Freund
Liverpool’s interest in the Bayern Munich executive would represent an ambitious option as FSG considers how to strengthen the club’s football operation following Hughes’ exit. However, there is an obvious obstacle to any potential move.
Freund recently extended his Bayern contract until June 2029 and is not expected to leave the Bundesliga giants anytime soon. Liverpool would therefore face a significant challenge if they attempted to convince him to make the move to Anfield.
The fact that FSG are not under pressure to appoint a successor means the ownership group can afford to take its time. Liverpool’s existing football structure has enough depth to ensure Hughes’s departure does not create an immediate problem.
That could also explain why the club are exploring external options despite currently favouring an internal solution. Hughes’s departure leaves FSG with an opportunity to assess whether the existing structure should be maintained or whether an experienced external executive should be brought in.
