Richard Hughes under pressure after £450m transfer failures

Richard Hughes was recruited as part of the post-Jurgen Klopp shakeup in 2024.

The sporting director was headhunted by Michael Edwards - who returned to the FSG fold as Head of Football. The Scottish exec left his post as Bournemouth technical director before taking up residence at the AXA Training Centre.

He played a key part in the appointment of Arne Slot - who won the Premier League title in his first season as head coach. And after a relatively subdued first season in the transfer market Hughes let loose last summer.

Liverpool conducted £450m worth of incoming deals - recouping close to £200m in players going the other way.

Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak were brought in for British record fees - while big money also went on Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, Giovanni Leoni and Giorgi Mamardashvili.

But anyone expecting a major improvement for the champions has been sorely let down however with Slot’s side well of the pace in the top flight.

They are in a battle just to re-qualify for the Champions League - and are facing very tricky ties in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and in Europe too.

Hughes wanted in Saudi Arabia

With so many troubles - and a failure to integrate the new signings - Slot had been singled out for blame.

But now it appears the finger is pointing in Hughes’ direction as the Anfield side count the cost of their transfer missteps.

Hughes is on the radar of a couple of Saudi Pro League sides - Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli - who are seeking new sporting directors. And in a report detailing Al-Ahli’s interest Football Insider claims that “the microscope” is now being focussed on Hughes.

“The 46-year-old’s future at Anfield is up in the air amid mounting questions surrounding last summer’s record-breaking £450million signing spree,” the report reads.

Hughes is now under the microscope

“Arne Slot has come under increasing pressure in recent months amid a failure to recreate the heights of his league-winning debut campaign, but the microscope is now beginning to focus on Hughes.”

Hughes - like Edwards and Slot is under contract at Anfield until 2027. It remains to be seen whether he will seek to break his contract and take up a post in the Saudi Pro League.

And on the basis of this new report - FSG may also be considering bringing his reign as sporting director to a premature end.

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