Liverpool confirm appointment of new sporting director Richard Hughes from Bournemouth to hunt for Jurgen Klopp’s replacement, sort out transfers and new contracts under CEO of Football Michael Edwards

Liverpool have finalized their decision to appoint Richard Hughes as sporting director, with the former Bournemouth transfer chief now leading the search for Jurgen Klopp’s successor.

Mail Sport reported in late January that Hughes was on Liverpool’s radar to replace short-term sporting director Jorg Schmadtke and that the Reds’ decision was heavily influenced by the arrival of Michael Edwards as CEO of football for owners Fenway Sports Group.

Edwards and Hughes have a two-decade relationship as colleagues and friends dating back to their time together at Portsmouth. At Fratton Park, Edwards was a data analyst and Hughes a leadership figure as a midfielder in his playing career.

Edwards, Liverpool’s new kingmaker, has linked up with Eddie Howe, Gary O’Neil and Matt Taylor, all of whom are now managers. The group, including Hughes, developed an “analyst room” where they shared knowledge on different approaches to football.

Edwards has often spoken about Hughes in football circles and he says he is surprised his good friend was not approached by any of Europe’s elite – including Liverpool – before this move to Merseyside materialised.

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Hughes is believed to be heavily influenced by the way of working at Barcelona and AC Milan – he speaks fluent Italian and has many contacts in Serie A – and was taken to Bournemouth with Howe, where he eventually managed their football operations department.

On the south coast, Hughes oversaw Bournemouth’s transformation into a stable top-flight club with shrewd deals that included the signings of Nathan Ake, Tyrone Mings, Dominic Solanke, David Brooks and Lloyd Kelly.

The latter trio all have links to Liverpool. Solanke was considered a ‘flop’ at Anfield, but Hughes saw his talents and took him to the Cherries, where he is now a successful striker in the Premier League. Kelly and Brooks were considered by the Reds before joining Bournemouth.

Edwards views Hughes as a football-focused athletic director, different from some who are more office-based and operational. This is the kind of candidate Edwards wanted to bring to Anfield and Hughes ticked all the boxes for FSG’s new CEO of football.

The pair often shared their knowledge of players and Bournemouth were in the race to sign many of the stars who are now at Liverpool, including Virgil van Dijk when he was at Celtic before his move to the Cherries’ rivals Southampton.

Although Hughes missed several key figures in playing and managerial roles – largely due to Bournemouth’s lack of budget or drawing power compared to other Premier League clubs – Edwards noted that his identification of candidates was exemplary.

Hughes is a passionate Italian footballer who grew up near Milan and played in the youth ranks of Atalanta before joining Arsenal’s academy. He is described as a “walking, talking contact book” who “knows everyone in football”.

Due to his love of calcio, Edwards looked into Serie A talents Alisson and Mohamed Salah when Liverpool first identified them as possible talents. Hughes also liked Italian boss Roberto De Zerbi, a Reds prospect, and tried to bring him to Bournemouth.

The current Brighton boss has been mentioned as a potential successor to Klopp. Recruiting the German’s successor is at the top of Hughes’ to-do list, with Xabi Alonso leading the way and Sporting’s Ruben Amorim also in the running.

Another task that will likely fall on him when he starts work will also be to open and try to resolve contract negotiations with star men Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold. All three have contracts that expire at the end of next season.

Hughes and Edwards won’t officially start work until June 1, but both are expected to be influential by now, and Liverpool and Bournemouth’s relationship is strong so it’s not a problem. Edwards, for example, was at Old Trafford on Sunday with other Liverpool chiefs.