So long Richard Hughes, Liverpool have already found their next transfer mastermind

Now that the 2026-27 summer transfer window is over, Richard Hughes has probably already packed his bags and is heading towards Saudi Arabia.

The Englishman has been Liverpool's sporting director for the last couple of years and has welcomed some top talent through the Anfield doors.

In fact, last summer, he spent over £450 million on new players for the Reds with most people believing that they'd barely have to do any business this summer.

However, after they only finished fifth in the Premier League last term, even more change was needed.

With this in mind, four new players were brought in and, while each of them will certainly improve things at Anfield, some more transfers may have to be made in January.

So, that's why it's rather reassuring that Fenway Sports Group may have already found their next transfer mastermind now that Hughes is gone.

Matt Newberry is the reason why Liverpool signed Lucca Brughmans and Djylian N'Guessan

The fact that Hughes has been dealing with both Liverpool and Al-Hilal's summer transfer window has been a bit confusing.

In reality, the Englishman should've chosen to stick with one club and he should have focused all of his attention on them.

However, that clearly wasn't an option as he ended up trying to juggle the windows of both teams and, while both clubs welcomed several new players to their ranks, it still feel like a lot more could've been done in the summer window for Liverpool.

But, that's all in the past now so, realistically, the Reds need to be looking ahead at their future.

And now, thanks to an update from BBC Sport, it seems like they're doing exactly that.

"As it stands, Liverpool have Alisson, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Freddie Woodman and Viteszlav Jaros as their goalkeeping options, but with Alisson's contract set to expire next summer and Mamardashvili's future now looking uncertain, Brughmans could be an option from the summer of 2027 onwards," they wrote.

"Similarly, the Reds are also closing in on a deal worth £4.3m for St-Etienne's Djylian N'Guessan. The France Under-20 international is a versatile forward and turned 18 at the weekend.

"N'Guessan will join Brest on loan and then link up with Liverpool in January or next summer.

Both deals have come about as a result of work from Liverpool's global talent department that is led by Matt Newberry.

"Earlier this year, they signed Mor Talla N'diaye and Ifeanyi Ndukwe after the teenage centre-backs both impressed at the U17 World Cup in Qatar last November."

Matt Newberry must work his magic again for Liverpool in January

Since Matt Newberry is likely to have a say on most of Liverpool's incomings over the next few years, he's clearly going to play a big role in the success of the Anfield outfit.

The Englishman is now Liverpool's Global Head of Talent Management and, since being appointed to this role, he's already managed to confirm two big deals for Lucca Brughmans and Djylian N'Guessan.

Neither of these two arrivals are likely to have an impact on the goings on at Anfield this season but, if Giorgi Mamardashvili's situation fails to figure itself out, the 6'7 'keeper could be on his way back to L4 as early as January.

Despite the moves that Hughes made for Liverpool this summer, it's clear that some new faces are still needed among the Reds' ranks if they're wanting to get back to their best.

Lamine Camara has already been linked with a potential switch and, with the futures of Cody Gakpo, Mamardashvili and Alexis Mac Allister all still up in the air, change is almost certainly going to be afoot over the next few months.

Here's hoping that Newberry can work his magic once again and turn the Reds into the global powerhouse that they deserve to be.