Jurgen Klopp gives verdict on Jorg Schmadtke amid Liverpool sporting director talks

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has praised Jorg Schmadtke amid reports that the German is being lined up to become the club's new sporting director.

Schmadtke left Wolfsburg in February after a four-and-a-half year spell, where he established a reputation for signing young talent with high potential.

After two consecutive seasons of finishing in 16th place in the Bundesliga, Wolfsburg brought in the ex-goalkeeper as their sporting director, and subsequently finished in sixth, fourth and third in the following seasons.

Last season brought a disappointing 12th place finish, but Niko Kovac's side are currently in sixth place and pushing to secure European football for next season.

Players such as Maxence Lecroix, Patrick Wimmer and Ridle Baku - all signed before reaching the age of 23 - have all been success stories - and Schmadtke could utilise a similar strategy at Liverpool, on a grander scale, if he were to be appointed.

Writing in The Athletic on Monday, reporter James Pearce said that talks between the Reds and the 59-year-old were 'ongoing'.

And in his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash against Aston Villa, Klopp was asked about the transfer chief.

Klopp on Schmadtke

Klopp and Schmadtke have never yet crossed paths in their post-playing careers, although the former did meet the ex-goalkeeper when on trial at Fortuna Dusseldorf in the late 1980s.

Klopp joked in an interview with Wolfsburger Allgemeine (via The Telegraph) in January that his lack of success on that trial must have disappointed Schmadtke - as he never offered him a contract to coach at his clubs.

But the Liverpool boss was also full of praise for the 59-year-old's talents in that interview. When asked about him again on Friday, reciprocated those views - although refused to comment on any specifics surrounding a potential appointment.

He explained: "If that [appointment] would happen, it would not be a Jurgen Klopp signing, or because we are both German or know each other.

"We started at a similar moment, our second career. I became a coach at Mainz and he became a sporting director at Aachen. Two teams with similar status. That's why, from there, we know each other a bit.

"I know he's a good guy, a smart guy. Very good in what he did in Germany, definitely, very successful.

"Character is good, personality is good. Humour, good. I know that from a few moments next to the pitch."