FSG's stance on Richard Hughes exit as Al-Hilal deal moves closer

Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal have identified Liverpool’s Richard Hughes as a leading contender to become their new sporting director.

Richard Hughes became Liverpool sporting director as part of FSG’s massive post-Jurgen Klopp rebuild. The returning Michael Edwards - newly-installed as FSG’s CEO of Football - hired the former Bournemouth technical director as one of his first moves.

It paid immediate dividends with Arne Slot - hired by Hughes - winning the Premier League title in his first season in charge.

Hughes also scored big wins on securing new contracts for both Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah - now earning £400k per week apiece at Anfield.

And last summer the Scottish exec was entrusted with £450m worth of new signings.

Liverpool brought Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak on British-record deals and also financed big moves for Hugo Ekitike and others.

The Premier League champions’ new signings are taking their time to settle it must be said but the scale of the spending should set the club up nicely for the next few years.

Al-Hilal want to appoint Richard Hughes

The only issue for FSG is that Hughes might not be around to oversee the next round of transfer deals.

Having sold Darwin Nunez to Al-Hilal last summer there is dialogue open between the sporting director and the Saudi Pro League giants.

Momentum is now gathering over a potential summer deal which would see Hughes move to Saudi Arabia as Al-Hilal’s new sporting director.

Fans have been less than pleased with Hughes’ contribution thus far this season and the majority would not be opposed to see him leave.

But according to James Pearce in the Athletic that kind of stance is at odds with what people in FSG think.

FSG don't want Hughes to leave

“This season has been problematic for Liverpool but Hughes remains highly regarded by FSG, who won’t want to lose him,” he writes.

Hughes - like Edwards and Slot - is only under contract until 2027.

While right now it’s uncertain whether that deal would be broken in order to see the former midfielder leave for the SPL this summer it hammers home the fact that the club’s leadership group is only guaranteed for another year.

Therefore without any clarity over a new contract for Hughes and others there may be a devastating void opening up for the Anfield club’s decision-making class.

This move from Al-Hilal for Hughes could put the club under pressure to safeguard his future.

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