Liverpool fans are beginning to see the fruits of sporing director Richard Hughes’ labour as Arne Slot’s Premier League winning side begin to transform.
This season, Hughes had one task fans cared about; get contract extensions sorted for the Big Three. As it turns, only Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk signed renewals while Trent Alexander-Arnold is joining Real Madrid on a free.
Considering Liverpool made an offer that would make Alexander-Arnold the highest-paid fullback in the world, Hughes may not have been able to do much more.
Now, with a deal to sign Jeremie Frimpong already thrashed out, Liverpool are now looking to wrap up a deal to sign Milos Kerkez with Fabrizio Romano reporting on X that “talks are now advancing.”
But looking back at what David Ornstein had to say about Richard Hughes after his first summer in charge (albeit a quite window) and it shows that the sporting director was expected to do the fine job he has been.
Liverpool have once again secured a top quality sporting director and Arne Slot should be excited
In September 2024, David Ornstein was speaking on the The Athletic FC podcast, and was essentially introducing Liverpool fans to their new director by sharing his reputation in the business.
Ornstein said: “Credit to Richard Hughes. I’ve said this a few times on air and some fans have reacted quite badly, but I think bit by bit, people are starting to say similar things.
“It’s just watching, listening and talking to people who are better-versed in the situation than us. They’re very complimentary. I speak to other clubs, directors, people who move in a similar world, sporting directors, technical directors… and so far, they’re taking their hat off to Richard Hughes.
“He arrived from Bournemouth and there was some scrutiny around that. Is he good enough for the job at Liverpool? Michael Edwards clearly thought so because that was his pick as sporting director at Liverpool when he took the role as CEO of Football for Fenway Sports Group.
“He didn’t have much time to get his feet under the table. He was working at Bournemouth and, of course, he would have had an eye on his next job, but that wouldn’t have been easy – nor will have replacing Jurgen Klopp after nine years at the club.
“They decided they would only do things that would add to the squad and improve it. So a No.6 was on the agenda; everyone could see a mile off it was something that if Liverpool could do, they should do.”
Now, Liverpool are the strongest English club and are acting very aggressively in the market
The announcement made by Trent Alexander-Arnold declaring his decision to join Real Madrid for free this summer has barely been acknowledged as the Reds make moves to replace him and move on.
With Frimpong already nailed on and Kerkez likely to follow suit, Liverpool could be a centre-back signing away from having their defensive signings all but done.
And with whispers of Liverpool being the club strongest placed to sign Florian Wirtz, this summer could turn out to be one of the most exciting in recent Anfield history.