By Steven Northover
Liverpool's Sporting Director, Richard Hughes, is rumoured to leave the Reds after the Summer transfer window and join the Saudi Pro League's Al Hilal. Hughes, who has been at Liverpool since March 2024, has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia for several months now, following questions over his suitability as Sporting Director after a disastrous 2025/26 season.
Credits - Liverpool Echo
Liverpool spent around £500 million over the Summer, with Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz coming in for record fees. Despite the massive investment, Liverpool struggled for form, finishing 25 points behind champions Arsenal. Whilst much of the blame was placed on manager Arne Slot, who was eventually sacked in late May, uncertainty about the future of Hughes and Chief Executive of Football Michael Edwards remained.
The former Bournemouth and Scotland defender will remain with Liverpool into the new season, however, and remains fully focused on finalising Liverpool's transfer targets this summer, before an orderly transition into the next Sporting Director - although there is no indication who that would be.
Despite numerous rumours linking Hughes to a move to the Saudi Pro League, both the man and the club have remained tight-lipped, and as such Liverpool's long-term strategy is a mystery.
Al Hilal, who finished second in the Saudi Pro League last season, are one of several clubs that are owned by the country's Sovereign Wealth Fund, or PIF, and is one of the most successful clubs in Saudi Arabia, winning the top division 21 times.
The club's current sporting director, Simon Francis, played with Hughes at Bournemouth - as well as replacing Hughes when he joined Liverpool - and is keen to work with each other again as Al Hilal look to refresh a first team that has the aging Kar Benzema, Kalidou Koulibaly, and former Red Darwin Nunez on their books.
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