Richard Hughes, Liverpool's sporting director, is expected to leave the club next summer when his contract expires, with a move to Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal likely. Hughes, who oversaw the appointment of Arne Slot in 2024 and his subsequent sacking after a disappointing second season, is expected to link up with former Bournemouth colleague Simon Francis at Al Hilal, according to BBC Sport. Francis replaced Hughes as Bournemouth's technical director when Hughes was hired by Liverpool's owner Fenway Sports Group in 2024 and is now leading Al Hilal's transfer activity.
Liverpool have already brought in a new head coach, Andoni Iraola, who replaced Slot after the latter's Premier League title win was followed by a poor campaign. The club have signed French defender Jeremy Jacquet and Spanish winger Victor Munoz this summer, with Jacquet's deal secured in January before Iraola arrived. Midfielder Harvey Elliott is set to return from a loan spell at Aston Villa. Liverpool remain interested in Paris St-Germain's Bradley Barcola but are expected to miss out on Ivory Coast's Yann Diomande, who prefers a move to PSG.
“Richard Hughes set to leave Liverpool next summer; Odegaard dismisses Galatasaray rumours.”
Iraola has assembled a new backroom team, with Tommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper joining as first-team coaches, Pablo de la Torre as assistant coach for the fourth time at a different club, and Tom Webber as first-team tactical coach after a decade in performance analysis at Bournemouth.
While Liverpool prepare for life after Hughes, Arsenal's Martin Odegaard has rejected speculation linking him with a move to Galatasaray. Suggestions that the Arsenal captain's agent, Bjorn Kvarme, had been spotted in Istanbul are "entirely without foundation", according to sources close to the player. Kvarme has actually been with Odegaard in the United States, supporting the midfielder's outstanding performances for Norway at the World Cup. The 27-year-old became just the third player since 1966 to earn an assist in each of his first three World Cup appearances.
Odegaard is believed to be 'very happy' at Arsenal, where he captained the team to the Premier League title last season despite enduring shoulder and knee problems. Manager Mikel Arteta has consistently dismissed speculation over the captaincy, and Odegaard retains the backing of his teammates, who unanimously voted to keep him as captain. He also captains Norway.
Odegaard is focused on Norway's World Cup campaign, with a match against Brazil on Sunday. If Norway are eliminated, he will begin his summer break before Arsenal's pre-season starts on 1 August against Girona, followed by a trip to Dublin to face Real Betis on 5 August.