Former Liverpool sporting director Michael Edwards launches advisory business alongside Ian Graham

Michael Edwards was the sporting director at Liverpool

In a highly awaited move, erstwhile Liverpool sports director Michael Edwards and the club's previous director of research Ian Graham will create an advising service.

Since quitting Anfield last summer, there remains constant talk regarding Edwards' next destination, with Chelsea being one of many teams in the UK and overseas to contact the Englishman.

But now that he's taken a year off from the sport, he's getting ready to come back as an advisory board member of Graham's new business, Ludonautics.

To help ownership teams and organisations create improvement and success both on and off the pitch, the company will give its expertise.

However, sources with an understanding of the issue believe it is the centre of his concentration for a minimum of the short term and is emphatic that he isn't going to take on another sporting director position in the near future. Edwards' status will not prohibit him from taking a long-term position anywhere.

Michael Edwards has earned a great deal of respect for his time spent as Liverpool's sporting director at Anfield when he played a key role in the club's rise to prominence in international football.

During his tenure on Merseyside, the former analyst gained a reputation as a strong negotiator, selling a number of players for enormous profits while also looking for relative values in the marketplace for transfers.

Once it was revealed that Edwards would be departing Liverpool at the close of the previous season, numerous clubs in Europe put him at the top of their lists.

According to The Athletic, Chelsea are currently making a move to get Edwards to join Todd Boehly's Stamford Bridge transformation but has had their offer rejected.