Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes already have plans in place to leave Liverpool, with the two recruitment heads reported to have “fixed-term deals.”
Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes Planning Exit?
Fixed-term deals:Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes reportedly signed three-year deals with no intention of staying long-term.
Changing landscape: FSG’s decision to shelve multi-club plans and a difficult season on the pitch have could lead both men to consider their immediate futures.
Arne Slot update: Despite the recruitment uncertainty, FSG are expected to stick with Slot into the final year of his contract rather than dismissing him this summer.
Like Arne Slot, both Edwards and Hughes will enter the final year of their contracts this summer and face question marks over their immediate future.
Amid interest from the Saudi Pro League and growing scrutiny over their work at Liverpool, there is a strong chance the pair could depart at the end of the season.
According to the Telegraph‘s Sam Wallace, neither Edwards or Hughes had plans to stay in their roles for the long term either way.
In a report on Thursday, Wallace claimed that Fenway Sports Group’s CEO of football and Liverpool’s sporting director were considered to have signed “fixed-term deals” and “planned to stay for three years and no longer.”
LONDON, ENGLAND - Saturday, October 4, 2025: Liverpool's Director of Football Michael Edwards before the FA Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Liverpool FC at Stamford Bridge. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
That is a sensational update which clouds the long-term stability of FSG’s rebuild and their plans for the summer ahead.
Whether that was always the case is certainly questionable, as Edwards rejoined to build a multi-club model and Hughes was taking up his first role at a major European club.
But with FSG shelving their plans to purchase another club and Liverpool in a considerably worse position on the pitch after their biggest-ever single-window spend last summer, it stands to reason that they could be considering their futures.
The expectation is that Edwards at the very least could leave in the coming months, while Hughes’ situation could depend on offers from Saudi Arabia with Al-Hilal hopeful of appointing him as their sporting director.
While Edwards’ role is effectively obsolete if FSG do not intend to add to their portfolio of football clubs, any departure for Hughes would require a replacement.
FSG expected to back Arne Slot despite sack calls
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, March 17, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot (R) and assistant coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst during a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 2nd Leg match between Liverpool FC and Galatasaray A.?. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
That comes at a time when Liverpool’s owners are also facing a big decision over Slot, who is presiding over an abysmal second season in charge and will only have 12 months left on his contract as of this summer.
It is maintained that FSG will back their current head coach for another season, with Wallace writing that “the expectation that he will be dismissed at the end of the season – or even earlier – is at odds with the mood from FSG in Boston.”
“The club are of a mind to persevere into the last season of [Slot’s contract] before making any decision on a renewal or otherwise,” he adds.
As it stands any decision on Slot’s position would involve Edwards and Hughes, but that would of course change if either – or both – were to leave themselves.