It has been decided who will lead Liverpool’s manager search out of Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards

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Liverpool are all set to make another key appointment in their restructuring of football operations.

With Michael Edwards already secured as FSG’s CEO of football, Richard Hughes’ arrival as sporting director has now been announced.

The announcement follows on from a piece in The Times this morning, who looked into Hughes’ imminent arrival in more detail.

Still technically employed by Bournemouth, it’s claimed that the former Scotland international will not take office until the season’s end in May. With Edwards’ contract reportedly not starting until June, this begs the question of who will be leading the search for Jurgen Klopp’s successor.

Liverpool clearly don’t have time to wait until the season is already over to get a move on here. The battle with Bayern Munich to secure Xabi Alonso as manager is seemingly set to intensify in April, for example.

So, somewhat confusingly, The Times claim that Hughes will be the man ‘tasked with finding the replacement for Klopp.’ Alonso is named as being ‘considered,’ along with Ruben Amorim and Roberto De Zerbi. The new sporting director is also claimed to be the one who will ‘drive transfer policy.’

Hughes straight to work at Liverpool

With Hughes still employed by Bournemouth, it seems likely that Liverpool may have come to some kind of arrangement with the Cherries.

For the 44-year-old to truly get to work at Anfield, he’ll have to juggle – or ideally abandon – whatever he’s working on at Dean Court. Now, with all due respect, he’s got bigger fish to fry.

First on the agenda is obviously nailing down Klopp’s successor. And with Alonso still the front-runner, Hughes may have given Liverpool a head-start on the Spaniard.

Reportedly seen as someone who knows just about everyone in football, the incoming sporting director certainly has the number of Alonso’s agent.

Hughes gives Liverpool Alonso advantage

Hughes dealt with Inaki Ibanez when tempting another of his clients – Andoni Iraola – to take over as Bournemouth manager last year.

As a result, maybe his emergence as the man leading the charge for Liverpool isn’t a coincidence.

Ordinarily, you’d expect that as the man with the more senior role, Edwards might take charge over such an important matter. But Hughes obviously has the trust of his superior. He has also handily had very recent experience with Ibanez.

So, if Edwards is happy with this, then we are too. Before he even gets his feet under his new desk, Hughes may have already completed his most important deal for Liverpool.