Liverpool have become one of the best clubs in elite football for identifying and securing top-level talent.

The Reds have a remarkably good record in the transfer market and put incredible emphasis on signing the right players to fill the right roles.

This has led to an incredibly successful period at Anfield, with Liverpool making sure they don’t waste a penny in the market.

In order to get to this level of hit-rate, there has to be a brilliant and meticulous team behind the team, starting with the scouts.

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Before everything goes through the data boffins at the Liverpool training ground, it has to go through the scouts first.

And with a crack team already assembled, Liverpool have now moved to bring back a surprise former player to fill a new role behind the scenes.

Signed for £20m from Aston Villa in 2011, Downing often failed to hit the heights expected of him at Liverpool.

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Nevertheless, the former England international admitted in an interview with The Guardian in 2012 that he ‘never wanted to leave’ Liverpool after being told he could go after just one year with the club.

Although he eventually stayed for a second season, Downing was sold in 2013.

As per a report in The Northern Echo, the Carabao Cup winner has re-joined Liverpool as a global talent scout.

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They claim that the opportunity to come back to Liverpool came ‘out of the blue’ for Downing, who had previously been in a coaching role with Leeds United.

The 40-year-old has reportedly spent the past few months ‘extensively preparing’ for his new job and has now begun working with the Reds.

As advertised on Liverpoolfc.com back in January, the Reds were indeed looking for a new global talent scout.

According to the advert, Downing will now be ‘providing video scouting observations on emerging talent players suitable for Liverpool FC.’

The former winger will seemingly be working from home as he attempts to identify emerging young players with the potential to play in the Liverpool first-team.

If the Reds sign any up-and-coming talents over the coming transfer window and beyond, we now know who to thank!