Reds want long-term Hughes replacement

[BBC] With Richard Hughes' move to Al-Hilal now confirmed, Liverpool are seeking a new sporting director for the fifth time since 2022. Hughes joined Liverpool in the summer of 2024 and oversaw the appointments of Arne Slot then Andoni Iraola. He informed the club earlier this year that he wanted to pursue a new challenge in Saudi Arabia. Mike Gordon, the president of Fenway Sports Group (FSG), is overseeing the process of finding Hughes' replacement, with Liverpool keen to make a swift appointment. Liverpool will look at internal candidates, but have not ruled out the possibility of appointing someone from outside the club. There is a desire to have someone that is committed long term. When the question of stability was put to Billy Hogan, Liverpool's CEO, this summer, he told BBC Sport: "I would send a message that we are in a very healthy place as a football club - the leadership from the ownership is in a very steady place and we're looking forward to the next season and the season ahead." However this has been a summer where Liverpool have changed managers, welcomed new investors, lost a number of senior players and seen their sporting director leave a year earlier than expected. Michael Edwards, who appointed Hughes, also resigned as FSG's CEO of Football. Hughes, who is understood to have been influenced by Edwards' departure, was integral in the decision to sack Slot and appoint Iraola and ultimately the new sporting director will have a big say in the Spaniard's future. When he joined Liverpool, Iraola said he only signed a two-year-deal because he didn't just want to be somewhere because he had a contract. His relationship with Hughes from their time at Bournemouth played a part in him getting the Liverpool job. Now it will be down to someone else to work in tandem with Iraola as Liverpool look to challenge again. Read more on problems Liverpool must solve