Liverpool counting the cost of £85m Richard Hughes transfer botch

It’s fair to say Richard Hughes left Liverpool with a mixed legacy.

Having been sporting director when the Reds lifted their 20th title the Scottish exec certainly deserves some credit. But Andoni Iraola has been left with an unbalanced squad - devoid of depth in key areas.

That was illustrated on Sunday when Manchester City ran out 3-0 winners in the Premier League clash at Anfield.

While City could bring on Jeremy Doku to win the game the home side had to resort to using the likes of Federico Chiesa and Joe Gomez from the bench.

Aside from squad depth there is another glaring issue.

Liverpool pick Wirtz over Cherki

And it’s that Hughes’ flagship signing - Florian Wirtz - is looking like a transfer botch with each and every passing game.

The 23-year-old German was again poor in a big match - too often picking the wrong pass and disappearing when the going got tough. Hard questions are going to have to be asked over the £116m man - who signed from Bayer Leverkusen in summer 2025.

This is supposed to be Wirtz’s team - with the playmaker occupying a central place in attack. It’s not working out however with genuine questions to be asked over whether or not the No7 has got a future at the club long term.

Cherki shines at Anfield

Contrast that with Rayan Cherki.

The Frenchman - coming off the back of another solid international window - was imperious in scoring City’s third goal at Anfield. With 16 goals and 18 assists in a little over a season at the club Cherki is outperforming Wirtz hands down in English football.

And the most frustrating element is that Cherki could - and should - have been a Liverpool player.

Liverpool told Cherki: No thank you

Former head coach Arne Slot jetted out to see the then-Lyon playmaker back in summer 2025 as he plotted a redesign of the Reds’ attacking shape.

Instead of shaking hands on a deal however he informed the France international that his services wouldn’t be required. Liverpool would pass on the opportunity to sign Cherki - pressing on with plans to make Wirtz their landmark arrival.

Cherki would later go on to complete a bargain deal to join City - standing at a little over £30m. Wirtz’s overall fee could reach some £85m MORE than City paid to Lyon for Cherki.

Unless things drastically improve soon then this is going to go down as one of the biggest transfer missteps in Liverpool history.

All the while Cherki goes from strength to strength in City blue for a fraction of the cost. Who knows where this will all end - with the Cityzens destined to be punished for 114 Premier League rule breaches.

In the meantime fans can’t get enough of the ambidextrous playmaker - who is comfortably winning the battle against the Reds’ nine-figure White Elephant.