Liverpool's former sporting director Richard Hughes made a key decision in the transfer market before leaving, with the Reds eventually missing out on a target to Chelsea
Richard Hughes sporting director of Liverpool during his first press conference at AXA Training Centre
Richard Hughes made a key transfer decision surrounding Liverpool this summer(Image: (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images))
Richard Hughes decided against strengthening Liverpool's right-back ranks this summer due to priorities elsewhere in the team, but there were still targets that the club was following in that position.
It follows the issues the Reds have faced in the role ever since the exit of Trent Alexander-Arnold, with no one able to cement the position for themselves.
Conor Bradley has been out of action since January with a serious knee injury he suffered against Arsenal, which has required surgery and will likely keep him out for a few more months. Meanwhile, Jeremie Frimpong has struggled with a few injury issues, but when he has been fit, he has been far from convincing.
That led to calls for a new right-back to enter the building during the summer transfer window, but those calls were not answered by the hierarchy, as center-back and the wide areas were the areas of most focus.
However, with that in mind, The Athletic reports that Liverpool was targeting a right-back during the market, with a clear option on the table.
That option was Marco Palestra, a 21-year-old Italian defender who had experience playing at right-back and right wing-back for Atalanta in Serie A over the past few years.
While the youngster was viewed as an option, with former sporting director Hughes looking at the possibility of landing him in the market, it was decided that other areas of the pitch were a priority, with the hope being that Bradley would take the position for himself when he returns to action.
In the end, Chelsea swooped and landed Palestra instead, paying $65 million to sign the Italian international to help fix its own issues at full-back.
Marco Palestra in action for Chelsea against Juventus
Marco Palestra challenges for the ball against Juventus(Image: Yu Chun Christopher Wong/Eurasia Sport Images)
It's unclear whether Palestra could've made the switch to the Premier League to solve all of Liverpool's problems, but the Blues will now be the ones to see if it was a chance missed or a lucky escape for the Reds.
Instead, Andoni Iraola has been handed a blockbuster forward line, with the arrival of Bradley Barcola costing the Merseyside outfit roughly $166 million.
There is some hope that the pragmatic coach will find a way to make it all work, having so far tested Barcelona loanee Ronald Araujo at right-back to compete with Frimpong.
How long that lasts is unclear, though the Uruguayan international impressed on his full debut against Ipswich, suggesting that it may have been the right call from the Liverpool hierarchy.
That will only be tested in time, while Bradley's return from injury could help alleviate any concerns in the coming months. It remains to be seen if Liverpool will need to enter the market again for a right-back, but for now, the manager is doing what he can with the options he has.