**Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes could decide against taking a job in Saudi Arabia this summer for one key reason, according to Keith Wyness.**
Hughes has been at Anfield since 2024, but [recent reports](https://live4liverpool.com/big-liverpool-exit-claim-has-now-emerged-regarding-richard-hughes/) have suggested that a move to the Saudi Pro League could now be on the cards at the end of this season.
But speaking to [_Football Insider_](https://www.footballinsider247.com/richard-hughes-could-now-reject-saudi-deal-to-stay-at-liverpool-keith-wyness/), former Everton CEO Wyness claimed the war situation in the Middle East currently could put paid to the former defender’s summer plans, given the dangerous nature of it:
_“I’ve seen these trends before, as I say, in Saudi of, okay, now these are the areas we’ve got to go for. It’s got to be these type of people that we’re looking for._
_“And if we’re going to get that level of person, let’s get the best we can. And so that’s something that I think is partly there to be looked at as well. Again, I’ll come back to the issue. Would Richard Hughes be able to sell it to his wife right now?_
_“Let’s go to Riyadh right now or Jeddah or anywhere else in Saudi right now given current situations. Until that’s resolved, I think the Saudi Premier League may find it hard to recruit a lot of people._
_“I mean, we go back to Steven Gerrard when he was at Al-Etifaq. He lived in Bahrain, I think, and commuted every day. Now, Bahrain’s been under serious attack and I think the bridge has also been bombed by drones, etc. So you’ve got to look at those domestic realities.”_
**A big decision for Richard Hughes to make**
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It goes without saying that the seriousness of the current situation means that any individual would be considering heading to Saudi Arabia right now.
For that reason, Hughes will naturally be weighing up his options, should the reports be true and he is eyeing a new challenge away from Liverpool.
There may be some Reds supporters who are happy to see him move on regardless, though, even if that is to another English team, having divided opinion since coming in as sporting director two years ago.
Granted, last season was a roaring success, but the new signings haven’t full worked out this time around, and some feel Hughes is fortunate not to be shouldering as much blame as Arne Slot.
It will be interesting to see what happens, especially if Slot is sacked, but it’s fair to say that Hughes’ Liverpool future is up in the air.