Richard Hughes is on the verge of joining Liverpool as the Merseyside club’s next sporting director, with his spell with Bournemouth ending imminently.
According to a report by Football Insider, Richard Hughes has been the subject of interest from Liverpool for a long time. The Reds are overhauling their backroom staff after the 2023/24 season ends. And they are closing in on landing the 44-year-old transfer guru, who will join the club upon leaving Bournemouth.
Richard Hughes did not enjoy an illustrious time during his career as a footballer, representing AFC Bournemouth and Portsmouth after graduating from Arsenal’s youth division. Since hanging up his boots, the Scotsman has taken a role behind the scenes with Bournemouth.
The 44-year-old began as a member of Bournemouth’s recruitment time during Eddie Howe’s stint as the manager. He has since steadily risen through the ranks before becoming the club’s technical director. But Hughes will end his spell at the Premier League outfit when the 2023/24 season ends.
Hughes’s impending departure from Bournemouth has made him a highly sought-after transfer guru in the market. Recent reports have heavily linked him with bigger Premier League clubs. And the latest update suggested that Newcastle United might steal a march on Liverpool in the race to land him. But that is not the case.
Liverpool’s interest in Richard Hughes stems from the departure of Jorg Schmadtke. The German transfer guru has left the Merseyside club after the January transfer window shut down. So, it behoved Liverpool to scour the market for a new sporting director, with several candidates emerging as targets.
Initial reports suggested Liverpool wanted to re-sign Michael Edwards as the new sporting director. But the 44-year-old will rejoin the Merseyside club in a bigger capacity, taking up an expanded role. So, the Reds have been keen on landing a candidate to work alongside Edwards, taking up the sporting director berth.
That person will likely be Richard Hughes, with the report claiming he is closing in on joining Liverpool. So, Newcastle United will have to look elsewhere as they scour the market for a replacement for Dan Ashworth.
