Liverpool fans should be watching two possible signings from Portugal after Julian Ward’s appointment
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Liverpool confirmed that Julian Ward will become the club’s new sporting director on Saturday as he steps into the role for the second time.The 45-year-old spent just one year in the position having succeeded Michael Edwards in 2022, before stepping away from the job and returning in a different guise in 2024.Although Liverpool‘s recruitment strategy has changed quite drastically from Ward’s first stint in the job, it could be instructive to look back on his signings from 2022 for what to expect this time around. And with Ward a big advocate of Portuguese football, Reds fans would be wise to track the progress of Porto’s William Gomes and Benfica right-back Daniel Banjaqui, who could both provide answers to problems within the current Liverpool squad.
Should we be awarded that 2013/14 title? 🤔 We are probably the club who has been impacted the most… Brendan Rodgers Gomes could be Liverpool’s new wingerWhen the 2026 summer transfer window closed, Liverpool were clearly still hunting for a new right-sided winger. Liverpool are also lacking a left-footer really, as they currently don’t have that option within the squad.That was surely part of the thinking in the Reds attempting to sign Yankuba Minteh from Brighton, but it would not be a surprise if Ward to look to Portugal and Gomes instead.The Reds’ new sporting director is fluent in Portuguese after working with the country’s national team in the past, and having also initially joined Liverpool as head of scouting for Spain and Portugal in 2012, he clearly has a preference for the Primeira Liga.During his previous stint as sporting director Ward was key in signing Luis Diaz from Porto and Darwin Nunez from Benfica – even if the latter signing was largely pushed by Jurgen Klopp – and with Liverpool needing a new right-sided, left-footed winger, Gomes is the obvious choice.READ MORE: Why Jurgen Klopp will be the biggest winner of Man City’s impending punishment whatever happensThe 20-year-old has started the season in good form for Porto, having scored two goals and laid on two assists in their opening seven games of the season.With a slight dearth in top-quality left-footed forwards across Europe, Gomes could mark himself out as a top option for Liverpool if he continues his form for the rest of the season.
The cost would surely not be as much as Minteh, for example, with a release clause of around £69m reportedly written into his contract.Banjaqui is one to watch at right-backAs well as a winger, Liverpool may well need to sign a right-back next summer, with big question marks remaining over the position. Ronald Araujo has provided a temporary fix, but the Uruguayan is only on loan.Plenty will depend on how well Conor Bradley comes back from injury, but Ward must be looking at potential options at right-back.Having broken through as one of the best young full-backs in Europe, Banjaqui would likely be on Liverpool’s shortlist regardless of whether Ward had been appointed or not.But the new man will be well aware of the 18-year-old’s potential already, and with Benfica no mugs when it comes to selling their top young talent, Liverpool may need to get in quick to prevent a bidding war.Banjaqui and Gomes maybe would not provide the immediate fix to two big issues within the Liverpool squad, but Ward can sort both positions for the long-term in one go by returning to a patch he knows only too well.