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Michael Edwards doesn't do interviews. The Liverpool sporting director just doesn't want the headlines.

Nor does Edwards appear publicly, and anyone searching for a picture of him will only find a select few.

You won't find much about him on the club site, and even a Google search will bring up precious little about his background.

Rewind eight years and most Liverpool fans won't have known the name, but those inside Anfield knew just what an asset the former Tottenham analyst was becoming.

Indeed, Edwards' fame has been garnered from the excellent work done behind the scenes and nowadays he's considered just as important to Liverpool's success as Jurgen Klopp or anyone else at the club.

In truth, Edwards' good work has been going on for years and Liverpool are reaping the benefits.

Take Bournemouth, for example. Dominic Solanke was sold to the Cherries for £19m, joining Jordon Ibe, who had moved for Bournemouth for £15m two seasons earlier. Brad Smith also made the same switch, for around £4m.

But one deal, struck way back on deadline day 2016, could soon make Liverpool millions.

In truth, it has been seven years in the making.

Edwards was a part of the transfer committee that identified Spanish midfielder Luis Alberto in 2013. Then at Sevilla, Liverpool believed he had potential and brought him to Anfield for a fee of £6.8m.

He'd make just nine appearances for the club, without scoring, before being sent out on consecutive loans to Malaga and Deportivo respectively.

And then in 2016 he was quietly sold to Lazio for £4.3m plus add-ons.

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It's a deal that has worked out perfectly for Alberto and the Italian club. Pretty soon, Liverpool could also benefit.

Since moving to Serie A, Alberto has shown why Liverpool thought so highly of him.

Still just 27, Alberto has improved each year to become one of the finest attacking players in the division. He's a creator supreme, making 14 goals in all competitions this season, while scoring five himself.

He's on course for his very best season at the club, so it's no surprise that heads are being turned across the continent.

Indeed, Alberto is said to be attracting interest from a number of high profile clubs throughout Europe, including in the Premier League and, interestingly, on Merseyside. Everton have been heavily linked.

Reports in Italy earlier this year claimed that Lazio desperately trying to tie the midfielder down to a new deal with a release clause of around £87m. Further reports claim that should that deal not be signed, then Lazio will demand £69m this summer.

Eye-watering sums of money. And this is where Liverpool come in.

Edwards and his team helped negotiate a 30% sell-on clause in the deal that took Alberto to Lazio.

They backed their judgement on the player and knew that he could become a success at Anfield.

It could end up being a stroke of genius.

Should Lazio get £69m for Alberto, the Reds could bank £21m - a nice sum of money to swell the coffers ahead of another big summer for the Reds.

It's why reports on Saturday that Liverpool can waive the clause seem strange.

Italian media claim that the Reds are willing to forget the deal in an attempt to bring Lazio striker Joaquin Correa to Anfield.

With eight goals this season Correa is doing well, but Liverpool's release clause could still prove to be more valuable.

Especially when you consider those same reports claim that the Reds are willing to pay £52m for the forward.

Essentially, if Liverpool were to waive the clause, Correa would cost just under £75m. The Reds don't do deals that don't make financial sense. And that doesn't.

So don't be surprised if many inside Anfield are cheering on the Spaniard to continue being a success in Serie A.

And as Alberto's reputation grows, so does Edwards' legend.

Try as he may, he just won't be able to avoid the limelight.

This article was first published on March 7 and has been updated on April 25