Liverpool’s Richard Hughes replacement now looks clear

Liverpool's replacement for Richard Hughes looks clear. Should the sporting director leave the club this summer.

Richard Hughes has been heavily linked with a move away from Liverpool this summer. There's interest from Al-Hilal, who would almost certainly offer him a massive contract to make the move.

And the fact that Hughes has just one more year left on his deal certainly makes it an interesting one. A move from him looks more likely than ever and it also appears that the most-likely replacement is there.

The Athletic's article mentions Pedro Marques, who joined FSG in 2024 as part of the multi-club project, as a potential sporting director. Now, this wasn't in regards to Liverpool but instead for Getafe, a club FSG looked into buying.

Marques 'likely' would have jumped into the sporting director role there. It stands to reason that he's a fully-trusted part of the team at FSG then - and someone they're happy to have running the show.

The death of the multi-club project leaves him without a clear role, however. That's something that may be easily fixed if Hughes were to leave - Marques could step into the role at Anfield, much as he was going to with Getafe.

Richard Hughes: Situation Summary

Al-Hilal Interest

Reports from Saudi journalist Ahmed Al-Ajlan indicate that Al-Hilal has reached a preliminary agreement with Hughes to become their new sporting director this summer. While transfer expert Fabrizio Romano confirms the "strong interest," he notes that Hughes remains focused on his duties at Anfield for the time being. The Saudi club reportedly views Hughes as a key figure who could facilitate high-profile Premier League acquisitions.

Strategic Shift and Future

Hughes’ position has been impacted by FSG’s recent decision to shelve its multi-club ownership model. This shift has altered the remit originally envisioned for the football leadership team, including CEO of Football Michael Edwards. While Hughes remains under contract until June 2027, the changing landscape at the AXA Training Centre has led to speculation that he may consider the Al-Hilal project if his long-term influence at Liverpool is reduced.

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