Liverpool might have just been given the advantage in Xabi Alonso race after last night’s news

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Liverpool have finally made a breakthrough in the reshaping of key personnel ahead of next season.

The Reds are currently on the lookout for a new manager and have seemingly installed Xabi Alonso as the preferred option. But as well as needing to hire someone to succeed Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool have also been on the hunt for a new sporting director.

Thankfully, last night brought the biggest signal so far that that key position is close to being filled. Sky Sports reported that with Michael Edwards set to come in to ‘lead football operations,’ Richard Hughes will join as sporting director.

This is good news on a number of levels. Of course, the return of Edwards will be rightfully celebrated and with his greater power at his disposal, it’s exciting where he’ll take Liverpool from here.

Hughes himself seems like a wily operator too, though. And as the Reds continue to pursue Alonso, the current Bournemouth man could actually end up being Liverpool’s talisman.

As the Cherries’ sporting director, it would likely have been Hughes who did the heavy lifting to get Andoni Iraola to the dugout at Dean Court last summer. Well, as it turns out, Iraola’s agent is none other than Inaki Ibanez, who also counts a certain Mr Xabi Alonso as a client.

Hughes hands Liverpool Alonso advantage

Judging from the words of Bournemouth owner Bill Foley, Hughes was a big part of the reason Iraola ended up taking over on the South Coast last year.

“First I listened to Richard Hughes and to Simon Francis, one of his top assistants,” Foley told the Men In Blazers podcast in September.

“They were intrigued by Andoni. They convinced Neill Blake that this was a move that we have a chance to do, we have a chance to make and if we don’t make this move, we’re going to regret it in the future.”

As the main driver behind Bournemouth’s interest, it seems virtually certain that Hughes was the man dealing with Iraola and – most importantly – his agent.

With the former Rayo Vallecano boss being installed at Dean Court, it’s safe to assume that talks between all parties went well.

Consequently, it doesn’t feel like too big a stretch to say that a relationship must have been formed between Hughes and Ibanez. Having since been working together all season long – including sticking through Iraola after a rough start to the season – hopefully that bond has been solidified.

Obviously, Alonso isn’t going to choose his next move based upon who his agent is most pally with. But it isn’t hard to see how Hughes’ actions last year could end up helping Liverpool 12 months on.

With the race set to be tight between Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen, these are the little things which can make a difference. Full steam ahead now.