Richard Hughes Liverpool 2024-25
© IMAGO - Richard Hughes Liverpool 2024-25
Richard Hughes could revisit a summer transfer target in January who Liverpool almost signed towards the end of the window.
It wasn't an ideal summer window for Hughes and co. Everything was overshadowed by the disappointment of not being able to land Martin Zubimendi.
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Federico Chiesa, the club's sole signing who actually ended up linking-up with Arne Slot's first team squad has spent most of his time this season injured.
Giorgi Mamardashvili meanwhile continues to line-up for Valencia on loan.
But there was one transfer Hughes was looking to wrap-up, who might have tipped the balance for him had the Reds completed a deal for his exciting signature.
And he is ready to be on the move again.
© IMAGO - Cesar Huerta
Cesar Huerta ready to be on the move again
The player in question is Cesar Huerta who has been one of the stars of the Mexican top flight over the last few years and who has just turned 24-years-old last week.
His manager revealed how close the winger came to signing for Liverpool back in September.
In a stormy press conference dominated by reaction to Pumas UNAM's shock 3-1 home defeat to Tigres in Mexico's Apertura competition, under-fire coach Gustavo Lema explained why one of his top attacking talents - valued at €3.7 million by FootballTransfers' Estimated Transfer Value - missed out on a headline-making move to Merseyside.
“’El Chino’ was scouted by one of the best clubs in the world and that is a source of pride,” declared Lema, who otherwise had to handle questions about poor form and fan unrest.
Lema continued: “What are you going to tell people? That you have a player who was scouted by Liverpool?
“No, people want to win and that is their right. We cannot tell people anything.”
The Pumas boss claimed Huerta’s switch to Arne Slot’s exciting Liverpool side was actually blocked by another English club, Sunderland, who were unwilling to fulfil their part of the transfer plan, to receive the 24-year-old for an acclimatising loan spell.
It seems surprising if the Black Cats did throw a spanner in the works – when they previously took a winger on loan from a top-flight club, Amad from Manchester United, the Ivory Coast international was a huge success and won the club’s Young Player of the Year award in 2022/23.
Sunderland’s reluctance to benefit from Huerta’s talents means the winger remained in his homeland where he has made 9 goal contributions in 17 matches in the Liga MX so far this season.
🚨🇲🇽 Cesar ‘Chino’ Huerta has rejected Pumas’ renewal proposal and could leave this January as his contract expires on June 2025.
Chino is expected to get a move to Europe with a transfer fee of around €4 million. 💰
Via @CLMerlo pic.twitter.com/dUX7Vp7y60
— All Fútbol MX 🇲🇽 (@AllFutbolMX) December 10, 2024
However, Hughes could strike again with Huerta ready to leave his club in the January transfer window.
This was confirmed by reporter Cesar Luis Merlo who claimed on his YouTube channel that the Mexican winger was very close to signing for Liverpool and that he wanted to be on the move in the January window.
Huerta is actually out of contract in the January window having rejected an offer to renew his current deal, which means Liverpool could have signed him on a free transfer.
However, Merlo has claimed that there is an agreement with Pumas that will prevent Huerta from leaving on a free deal and that a fee would have to be paid by any prospective club.
But the reporter added that Huerta is still keen on a move to Europe, although he did not mention whether Liverpool were still interested.
Nonetheless, it seems like there is a bargain to be struck given his contract situation.
All of this would suggest Liverpool could still yet make a move in the upcoming window.
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