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Throughout Michael Edwards' two-and-a-half years as Liverpool's sporting director, the Reds' official has watched his reputation soar.

Unlike several others in football who hold similar positions, the famously low-key Edwards cares little for publicity, preferring to operate behind the scenes with virtual anonymity.

In an era where people like Monchi, Marcel Brands and Michael Zorc have become big names in their own right in football's never-ending coverage, Edwards is someone who deliberately shuns the public eye.

His way of working has seen his standing reach near mythical-status among Liverpool supporters who have become used to celebrating the work of their much-vaunted sporting director.

Very little is relatively known about Edwards, however, given the lofty position he works from at Anfield.

But while football followers outside of Anfield might not be too familiar with the University of Sheffield graduate, they will know his work.

Edwards arrived at the club back in 2011, joining under the job title of 'head of performance and analysis' after spells at Portsmouth and Tottenham.

He was subsequently promoted to the role of 'director of technical performance' and then 'technical director' before being made sporting director in November 2016.

Edwards' rapid rise at Anfield now sees him presiding over transfer dealings and his work is credited with bringing in a host of top stars for Jurgen Klopp, including Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Fabinho, Naby Keita, Andy Robertson and Alisson Becker.

Much has also been made of Edwards' ability to extract full value for players deemed surplus to requirements at the club and supporters have championed the Reds' sporting director time and again.

Edwards, who turned 40 last month, has managed to offload a string of players for figures that few would have previously thought possible over the last couple of windows.

The likes of Dominic Solanke (£19m), Mamadou Sakho (£26m), Danny Ings (£20m) and Danny Ward (£13m) have all been moved on at a significant profit at Anfield under Edwards' eagle-eyed watch.

Perhaps most impressively of all, the Reds negotiated a £142million fee for the outgoing Philippe Coutinho in January 2018, making the Brazilian the third most expensive footballer in history in the process.

On top of the biggest fee ever given to a British club, Edwards also struck a clause that placed an additional £100m premium on any Liverpool player Barcelona want to sign before 2020.

(Image: Colin Lane)

Barca officials were not happy with the clause at the time, but an insistent and determined Edwards typically drove the hardest bargain as Liverpool prepared for life after their mercurial No.10.

However, Edwards and his team's particular brand of alchemy is simply based on a rigid framework that adheres to the very latest trends in football tansfers.

For example, Jurgen Klopp has decided to offer Harry Wilson the chance to prove himself as a Liverpool player this pre-season, but the Reds would be looking to start the bidding at £25million minimum should they decide to move the Wales international on.

The ECHO understands Edwards and his team of data-driven analysts scour the market and use other transfers to define the value of Liverpool's players.

The transfer of James Maddison from Norwich to Leicester last summer is held up as Liverpool's justification for their valuation of Wilson - even if they are in no rush to listen to offers.

Attacking midfielder, Maddison, starred for the Canaries in the 2017/18 season in the Championship, earning him a £22m move to the Foxes last year as a result.

(Image: David Rogers/Getty Images)

So while Wilson is yet to make his Premier League debut at Anfield, the Reds will feel a 15-goal season in the Championship for Derby is a fair price for the versatile Wilson.

The same applies for the figure they are holding out for on young winger Ryan Kent. The skillful wideman enjoyed an excellent year on loan with Steven Gerrard's Rangers last term, but it looks unlikely that the Ibrox side can stump up the £12m Liverpool want.

Again, that figure might be surprising to Anfield outsiders, but the Reds feel it is an acceptable one, given Daniel James' £15m move from Championship outfit Swansea to Manchester United, this week.

Liverpool won't entertain offers for Dejan Lovren that dip below their £25m valuation, either.

Despite the Croatian tuning 30 before the new Premier League season, Edwards and his team think such a figure is more than reasonable in the current climate for a defender who played in the World Cup and Champions League finals in 2018.

With Edwards' steadfast refusal to deviate from the figures and valuations he and his team place on Reds' players, coupled with the fact the club are under no pressure or obligation to sell, it's no surprise to see Liverpool extracting top dollar.

The Reds' recruitment network is the envy of Europe after a string a incredible market successes - but their ability to recoup should be just as lauded.