Richard Hughes, the Liverpool sporting director who appointed Arne Slot and then oversaw his sacking, is expected to leave the club when his contract expires next June. Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal are operating on the basis that Hughes will join them, reuniting him with his former Bournemouth colleague Simon Francis.
Francis, who replaced Hughes as Bournemouth technical director when Hughes was hired by Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group in 2024, is already leading Al Hilal's transfer activity after leaving the Cherries at the end of last season. Hughes' current deal runs out next June and he is not expected to sign a new one.
“Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes expected to leave at end of contract next June, with Al Hilal expecting him to join.”
For now, Hughes and Liverpool are focused solely on the current transfer window and the forthcoming season, the first under Andoni Iraola. Iraola replaced Slot, who won the Premier League in his debut campaign but was sacked at the end of last season after a disappointing second year.
Liverpool have already signed French defender Jeremy Jacquet and Spanish winger Victor Munoz this summer, with Jacquet's signature secured in January before Iraola's arrival. Midfielder Harvey Elliott is also set to return to the club after his loan spell at Aston Villa expired. The club continue to be linked with Paris St-Germain's Bradley Barcola, but are set to be disappointed in their pursuit of Ivory Coast star Yan Diomande, who prefers a move to PSG.
This week Liverpool officially agreed deals with Tommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper to join Iraola's backroom staff as first-team coaches at Anfield. Pablo de la Torre arrives as an assistant coach, marking the fourth time he has worked with Iraola at a different club. Tom Webber, who also worked with Iraola at Bournemouth, will join as first-team tactical coach after a decade in performance analysis at the Cherries.
The departure of Hughes will mark another significant change in Liverpool's hierarchy as the club enters the Iraola era.