Jamie Redknapp shares his opinion on Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes who he ‘knows well’

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Liverpool are running out of time if they want to make any new additions before the transfer deadline.

The Reds are still yet to make a single signing since the end of last season as they run the risk of letting the first-team squad go stale.

It has been reported on Monday that a deal to sign Giorgi Mamardashvili is close to being completed, however the goalkeeper would not arrive at Anfield for at least another year.

As a result, there has been plenty of scrutiny on Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes.

Hughes is new in the job having arrived from Bournemouth over the summer. Although not an easy position to come in to, it’s fair to say that more had been expected of the former midfielder.

Jamie Redknapp backs Richard Hughes

Hughes arrived at Liverpool with a big reputation having honed his trade at Bournemouth over the past decade.

But three months into his tenure at Anfield, and we are really yet to see any indication of why the 45-year-old is so highly rated.

Yes, Hughes has orchestrated a couple of very good-looking sales for Liverpool, that is very true.

But if the money earned from flogging Fabio Carvalho and Sepp van den Berg to Brentford is not reinvested back into the Liverpool squad, then the window will still be considered a huge failure.

READ MORE: The two key things Richard Hughes has been looking for in new signings for Liverpool

Despite that, it’s clear that Hughes remains a popular and respected figure within the football industry.

Speaking live on Sky Sports after of the broadcaster’s coverage of Liverpool vs Brentford on Sunday (25/08/24 7.06pm), former Reds captain Jamie Redknapp offered his backing to Hughes.

“I  know Richard well,” Redknapp revealed. “He is a complete football man.

“He has encyclopaedic knowledge on players, games, he knows everything about the game.”

Richard Hughes gamble yet to pay off

In some respects, hiring Hughes was a gamble from the Liverpool owners. The former Scotland international is obviously well-respected, but does not have a CV befitting of a club the size of the Reds.

Instead, Hughes appears to have secured the job on the basis that he is very close to FSG’s CEO of football Michael Edwards.

While Edwards is a wily operator and has had huge success in the past, that does not mean that Hughes is ready – or capable – to do the job at Liverpool.

It may be unfair to lay all of the blame for Liverpool’s so far disappointing transfer window solely with Hughes as many different people are involved in the Reds’ recruitment.

But as sporting director, Hughes must carry the can for a summer which has quite frankly been a little embarrassing. He is obviously a good football man, but he is yet to show it at Anfield. Until he does, the pressure will rightly be on Hughes to show that he’s up to the job.