Liverpool have an “agreement in place” with Bournemouth ace Richard Hughes to make him their next sporting director, according to an update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.
The Reds have announced the return of Michael Edwards in a new role, with their former sporting director now the club’s new CEO of Football.
It is a significant appointment by owners FSG, given the Englisman’s reputation in the game, having been behind the signings of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Virgil van Dijk to Liverpool, among many others down the years.
The hope is that the return of Edwards help make up for the huge loss of Jurgen Klopp this summer, and he will play a big role in nailing the German’s replacement as manager.
It looks as though another key appointment could also be close, with Romano taking to X to claim that Hughes is expected to arrive from Bournemouth as sporting director:
“Richard Hughes has already an agreement in place to join Liverpool, it will happen at the end of the season. After excellent job at Bournemouth with CEO Neill Blake, he’s gonna leave at the end of the season to sign for Liverpool. He’s part of Michael Edwards plan.”
Our thoughts on Hughes being Liverpool’s next sporting director…
The fact that Edwards has seemingly picked Hughes to come to Liverpool immediately says a lot about his quality as a sporting director, so he should be considered a fantastic option for the Reds.
The 44-year-old, who once knocked the Merseysiders out of the FA Cup after his goal in a 1-0 win for Portsmouth in 2004, has done some brilliant business at Bournemouth, including bringing Dominic Solanke to the Cherries from Liverpool in 2019.
While the English striker hadn’t excelled sufficiently enough to remain at Anfield, Hughes clearly saw him as a great prospect and Bournemouth are now reaping the rewards, having scored 14 Premier League goals this season, netting 72 in 205 appearances in total.
The hope is that he can come in and enjoy great success at Liverpool, enjoying a superb working relationship with Edwards and whoever the new manager is, as the Reds begin a new era without Klopp, looking to miss him as little as possible.
