Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes won’t be leaving the club at the end of the season, according to a big new update from journalist Ben Jacobs.
Hughes arrived at Anfield from Bournemouth in 2024, coming in with a big reputation and overseeing a memorable summer transfer window last year.
Both Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak broke Liverpool’s transfer record, showing huge ambition in the market, and everything seemed to be running smoothly.
But this season has been a disaster for the Reds, with Arne Slot taking the most criticism, but plenty of negativity also coming Hughes and Michael Edwards’ way.
Some of that stems from a perceived loyalty towards Slot, at a time when many supporters want to see a change of manager this summer, at the very latest.
Hughes has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia recently, but Jacobs has taken to X to shoot down those claims, saying he is going nowhere:
“Exclusive: Richard Hughes won’t leave LFC this summer and will lead a continued revamp, with 3-4 senior players set to arrive. Al-Hilal interest genuine, but FSG want Hughes to stay.”
Exclusive: Richard Hughes won't leave #LFC this summer and will lead a continued revamp, with 3-4 senior players set to arrive.
Al-Hilal interest genuine, but FSG want Hughes to stay.
More on @talkSPORT shortly.?
? @alex_crook pic.twitter.com/ygMtjM7l0s
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) April 16, 2026
Is Richard Hughes still the right man for the job at Liverpool?
This update is likely to divide opinion, with some valuing the job Hughes has done as Liverpool’s sporting director, and others feeling he ultimately did the wrong business last summer when it came to certain signings.
Slot has certainly made it clear that he rates the former Bournemouth defender highly, lauding his work in getting new deals over the line for Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk last season:
“Richard deserves credit for that, and lots of credit. In the end, we got what we wanted and Mo had, in most situations, when you simply look at his numbers, his best season so far in his history at Liverpool. And for Virgil it’s difficult to judge this on numbers, but I think he’s having a great, great season as well.
“Mostly people judge the sporting director on the signings he brings in, I also like to judge him on how he lets me work over here, and giving me the confidence and always being positive, and creating a way of working which is idea for every manager.”
If Slot is ultimately sacked – that will depend on FSG, as Hughes appears to want him to stay – it could be arged that Hughes should go with him, allowing Liverpool to build a new era at the club.
Whatever happens with the sporting director, though, the time has come for a change in the dugout, with Xabi Alonso or Andoni Iraola feeling like the leading options currently.