Why Liverpool started signing players from Portugal and could soon abandon the plan

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Liverpool started targeting players from Portugal in 2022 and there appears to be a reason for why. The plan could soon stop, however.

Liverpool paid a lot of money to sign Luis Díaz from FC Porto a year ago – and what a signing it was. The Reds got themselves a gem and appeared inspired, too.

The summer saw Darwin Nunez arrive from Benfica, after all. Liverpool paid even more money to get him, once again bringing in arguably the best player in Portugal.

They were also linked with Matheus Nunes from Sporting, completing a trifecta of Portuguese giants. That’s interest that, per the Telegraph, they’ve retained even after his move to Wolves.

And, of course, there has been plenty of talk that Liverpool want Enzo Fernández from Benfica. He only moved there in the summer but has made an incredible impression.

So why such an interest in the Portuguese league? In fact, the Reds signed two Portuguese players in recent years, too, with Diogo Jota and Fabio Carvalho.

It’s been a clear plan in recent times, particularly since January 2021. Julian Ward appears to be the reason why.

Why Liverpool started targeting Portugal

The Liverpool Echo put out a piece this week that goes into Ward’s background a little. When laid out, you can see the enormous influence that Portuguese football has had on him.

Ward worked for their national team between 2008 and 2010 where, in his own words, he monitored ‘the form of a pool of Portuguese players scattered across eight or nine European leagues’. He’d then move on to Liverpool soon afterwards, where he was a scout in Portugal and Spain for three years.

After some fantastic work in Liverpool’s recruitment department – including and ‘outstanding’ revamp of the loan system, per Michael Edwards – Ward became the Reds’ sporting director. He officially took the role last summer but essentially ran the show from last January.

That, of course, was when Liverpool signed Díaz, and Ward led the charge there. His influence appears clear when it comes to the recent business in Portugal.

But things could soon change. Ward will step down and leave Liverpool this summer after one year in the role. Will that see a shift away from their focus on Portugal? It seems likely, in all honesty.