Liverpool have decided who they want as their ‘first choice’ new sporting director

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Liverpool appear to have finally made a decision on who will be their new sporting director.

The Reds have been without someone in the key position ever since Jorg Schmadtke left his temporary post in January. No one has been permanently in place at Anfield since Julian Ward departed in the summer of 2023.

It isn’t as though Liverpool haven’t been trying, however. Former transfer guru Michael Edwards was reportedly approached only last month, although he turned down a reunion with the Reds. Plenty of others have been mentioned, too.

Now though, according to journalist Gianluca Di Marzio on X, Liverpool have installed Bournemouth’s Richard Hughes as their ‘first choice’ target.

“Richard Hughes will leave AFC Bournemouth at the end of the season,” writes the Italian reporter. “He remains first choice of LFC as new technical director.”

Hughes first choice for Liverpool

Hughes’ names is one that has been mentioned in connection with Liverpool over recent months. However, the noise surrounding the former Arsenal youth teamer hasn’t been all that loud.

Nevertheless, it does now appear as though Hughes is the man the Reds want to install.

As per afcb.co.uk yesterday, the 44-year-old is set to leave his role with the Cherries at the end of the season. It does look like things are falling into place.

For Liverpool fans, plenty will have absolutely no idea who Hughes is, let alone the way he works in the transfer market.

But The Daily Mail reported earlier this week that the Glaswegian is actually someone who has a close relationship with Edwards and comes with the former Liverpool man’s recommendation.

Given some of the success Bournemouth have had in the transfer market with young players like Milos Kerkez and most recently Alex Scott, Hughes seems to have a good eye.

Nevertheless, the step up from the Cherries to Liverpool is an enormous one. Hughes does have a lot of experience in the game, mind you.

Having had a playing career spanning 16 years which took in a Premier League stint with Portsmouth, he knows his way around. Hughes even actually once scored a winner against Liverpool while playing for Pompey in 2004. But he’s never been at a club anything like the size of the Reds.

No matter, if FSG have him down as the right man and Edwards is a fan, then that’s good enough for us. Time to get this locked up.