Liverpool’s Sporting Director is approaching one year in charge. What impact has he made since his arrival and is it ‘Now or Never’ for Richard Hughes as huge summer overhaul awaits.
Former Player Raised in Italy
Richard Hughes’ connection with Bournemouth begins long before becoming the clubs Technical Director in 2016.
Hughes was a former player who’s career spanned three decades. His youth career began in Italy with Atalanta where he was raised as a child.
After leaving Italy with his family he got the opportunity to join the Arsenal Academy. Being deemed not good enough for First Team Football, he left and joined Bournemouth in 1998.
After making 131 appearances, he was signed by Portsmouth where he played all the way till 2011 when he retired.
A year after his retirement he was convinced by manager at the time Paul Groves to re-join in the summer of 2012.
Bournemouth were a League One club, far from the shining lights of the Premier League.
That was soon to change.
Bournemouth’s Remarkable Rise
Bournemouth rise and celebration
(Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images)
Following his second and final retirement, Richard Hughes joined Bournemouth’s Recruitment Team under Eddie Howe.
2 years later the club was plying it’s trade in the Premier League. Richard Hughes earned promotion to Technical Director and under the excellent leadership of Eddie Howe, Bournemouth went on to solidify themselves as a top flight team.
Richard Hughes: Best Transfers
Known for his ability to find quality in the lower leagues, some of his previous dealing include:
Antoine Semenyo: Right Winger linked with Chelsea for a rumoured £65 million. Would yield significant profit for Bournemouth.
Nathan Ake: Signed for club record £20 million, sold for £41 million to Man City.
Lewis Cook: Signed as the club got promoted to the Premier League and became an excellent servant at the club
Many give him credit for his shrewd business but has he been able to identify the ‘top players’?
That is the question Liverpool are about to face this summer. Multiple first team regulars such as Salah, Virgil, Diaz, Nunez, Elliott, Trent and others all potentially face the Anfield exit door.
Big Boots to fill
Liverpool Michael Edwards, Jurgen Klopp and Mike Gordon
(Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Michael Edwards, current CEO of Football for FSG, was one of the best Sporting Directors the Premier League has ever seen. His track record would certainly back that up.
He initially joined as Head of Analytics. This pivot within the club to a more data driven approach in transfer dealings has led to incredible on field success.
Over the years his reputation within the club grew and eventually he became the leading figure in all major Sporting Decisions at the club alongside Jurgen Klopp.
His tenure from 2011 to 2022 saw Liverpool sign players such as Luis Suarez, Philippe Coutinho, Sadio Mane, Mo Salah, Virgil Van Dijk, Roberto Firmino, Fabinho and remarkably the list could go on.
Edwards was a phenomenal Sporting Director. His expertise in finding undervalued, high potential players and reputation for being a tough negotiator were large contributors to Liverpool’s success in recent times.
Time for Richard Hughes to Step Up
It’s now or never for the New Sporting Director of Liverpool Football Club.
His role is not only to sign players, but to manage contract situations. And that certainly hasn’t been a strong point for the club over the past year.
Fix the contracts
Virgil Van Dijk and Mo Salah contracts
(Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Enough is enough. Liverpool fans are sick and tired of not having their best players signed to new deals. This situation has dragged on for months and is now escalating into having a tangible effect on the feeling around the club.
If Liverpool lose three of it’s best players on free-transfers all in the same window, that would see an almost certain end to Liverpool’s rejuvenation, inspired by Jurgen Klopp.
Not only would you have to replace the immense quality of Mo Salah, Virgil Van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold. You must also consider the damage in losing such invaluable experience in and around the dressing room.
They are still, without doubt, the best players in the world in their respective positions and absolutely adored by the fans.
Give Mo Salah and Virgil new deals until 2027. It’s as simple as that.
The news would lift everyone at the club, giving confidence and belief for this season and beyond.
Recuperation and Investment
Arne Slot has proven to be a smooth operator. He has also shown that certain players he inherited are not to his liking or style.
Richard Hughes and his team will look to sell those deemed surplus. With shrewd negotiation Liverpool should be capable of recuperating in the region of £160 million.
Investing this money into young, hungry players wanting to prove themselves on the world stage at Liverpool should be the main aim.
Singing a player such as Alexander Isak would not only add an incredibly talented Forward to Arne Slot’s front line. It would show the world that Liverpool Football Club has serious ambition and plan on retaining their status as one of the most successful teams in Europe.
Now or Never for Richard Hughes
The clock is ticking in the Sporting Directors office. Three Club Legends are on course leave in 3 months time.
Are Liverpool willing to spend Hundreds of Millions of Pounds on new talent in almost every position on the pitch? Are those players even available this summer for the price Liverpool are willing to pay?
These are the questions the Liverpool Sporting Director and his team must be asking themselves ahead of a huge summer overhaul for the Reds.
It is now or never for Liverpool’s Richard Hughes.