**Since his arrival at Anfield, Richard Hughes has been the man responsible for rebuilding the team left behind by Jurgen Klopp.**
The squad that Arne Slot and Hughes inherited was one of the best in the land, as was shown when the team went on the win the Premier League in the Dutchman’s first season in charge.
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A lot has changed since that league title win almost a year ago though, and the evolution of the Reds has well and truly begun.
A spend upwards of £400 million was authorised in the summer to kick off Liverpool’s rebuild, but a blunder from the window prior is now coming back to haunt Hughes.
Hughes mistake haunts Liverpool a year on
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Last January, with the Reds top of the league, having only signed Federico Chiesa under Hughes, news broke that the champions-elect were interested in bringing in attacking reinforcements to strengthen their flanks.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was the man [**most heavily linked with a Merseyside move**](https://www.anfieldwatch.co.uk/liverpool-fc/news/liverpool-transfers-exclusive-khvicha-kvaratskhelia/), with a deal feeling genuinely close before the Georgian eventually signed for PSG.
Liverpool didn’t make a signing that window, and missing out on Kvaratskhelia now looks like a massive blunder.
On Wednesday night the 25-year-old stole the show in the Champions League, helping PSG to a 5-2 victory over Chelsea.
Kvaratskhelia made an instant impact after being brought off the bench, scoring twice and assisting another goal despite only having 14 touches.
The winger’s display was truly clinical, a trait that Liverpool’s attack is desperately missing right now.
Just hours before Kvaratskhelia delivered on the big stage for PSG, transfer insider [David Ornstein](https://youtu.be/Itn-BAw5myo?si=LgtxrUgqnTNQpM_w&t=1687) confirmed that he expects Liverpool to sign a wide forward in the coming summer window.
One of Ornstein’s posts on X from January 2025 during the Reds’ initial pursuit of Kvaratskhelia has been brought to attention by supporters in light of this update, with one supporter even describing the failure to sign the Georgian as a 'legendary fumble'.
Over a year on and Slot’s side are still in need of an electric winger like Kvaratskhelia, leaving some supporters frustrated.
Hughes’ failure to land the Georgian last winter now looks like an even bigger blunder than it did at the time, and it could cost Liverpool this season as they battle for a place in the Premier League’s top four.