Julian Ward just secured the next Kaka and the next Coutinho for Liverpool

Julian Ward just secured the next Kaka and the next Coutinho for Liverpool Liverpool have a new sporting director and he's started things very strongly. It's not necessarily a tough act to succeed Richard Hughes. He wasn't the most popular figure at Anfield. However, Julian Ward does have a difficult job on his hands. This is a time of change and this squad he has inherited lacks cohesion and balance. Hughes went out to sign the biggest stars on the planet. He's secured some big money moves but he didn't necessarily think of what was better for the squad. That's why he wasn't exactly an ideal sporting director for Liverpool. Now Ward is going to have to somehow make this broken squad work and plug the holes and gaps that have been left. It's not going to be easy, but there is a clear long-term strategy at play. Liverpool's new transfer strategy under Julian Ward Before becoming sporting director for a second time Ward worked behind the scenes under Hughes. Ward was in charge of recruiting some of the best young players on the planet alongside Pedro Marques. Liverpool have already felt the impact of Ward's work. He played a role in convincing Jeremy Jacquet to sign for the Reds, as did he to convince Ifeanyi Ndukwe and Lucca Brughmans. It's understood he was also in Paris to get the deal over the line for Bradley Barcola. Under Ward in the last year or so Liverpool have really aggressively pursued some of the best young players on the planet. This is unlikely to change now that Ward is at the helm. Liverpool secured the new Kaka and Coutinho It's important to say that behind the scenes Liverpool already have a couple of really exciting players as well. During the international break Erik Farkas and Liverpool-bound Samuel Martinez both made their debuts for their respective national teams at U18 level when Colombia and England faced off against each-other. Martinez and Farkas were lively in the game, with the latter having the last laugh as his England side won 3-2. It was a glimpse of the future for Liverpool with Martinez having been described as the new Kaka and Farkas having been likened to Coutinho. Ward played a key role in securing both of their futures. He was very active in transfer negotiations for Martinez, and also heavily involved in getting Farkas to secure a professional contract - despite attracting interest from a number of Premier League and European sides. Ward's role proved vital in both deals, and in the process he will have secured two gems who could follow in the footsteps of two legends they have been likened to.