Richard Hughes
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People giving Hughes the credit for selecting Slot, do we actually know it was all hughes ? For me at the start of the season Hughes priority was to sort out the contracts for the 3. Well into the season, Salah and VVD were going to the media saying hey have not been approached. Winter I think we needed reinforcement at the back, but if Slot is happy with Quansah and Robbo so beit.
Until I see he has done something, he is stealing a living
Until I see he has done something, he is stealing a living
The article seems to suggest it was indeed Hughes. The fact he nabbed Iraola not long before suggests it's not an unreasonable story.
Or maybe, just maybe, the coincidence was that it was published just before we played Bournemouth who we got him from - you know like what always happens in the press.
The Athletic:
The restructure last summer means that Hughes has taken on the day-to-day duties at Liverpool. He is the point of contact for players and their representatives, updating Edwards with any movements, which are then presented back to the FSG board.
Since replacing FSG president Mike Gordon, Edwards has been looking into multi-club model opportunities and only gets involved with Liverpool for major financial decisions. When the club generate money, it’s up to Hughes and Edwards to decide how it is reinvested.
Slot also has a major say in who he wants in his squad — although, as a head coach, he is not as deeply involved as former manager Klopp had been.
The restructure last summer means that Hughes has taken on the day-to-day duties at Liverpool. He is the point of contact for players and their representatives, updating Edwards with any movements, which are then presented back to the FSG board.
Since replacing FSG president Mike Gordon, Edwards has been looking into multi-club model opportunities and only gets involved with Liverpool for major financial decisions. When the club generate money, it’s up to Hughes and Edwards to decide how it is reinvested.
Slot also has a major say in who he wants in his squad — although, as a head coach, he is not as deeply involved as former manager Klopp had been.
I think you'd much rather be in our position than Chelsea's. They're locked into ludicrous 8 year deals for players good and bad. In the end it'll fuck them up.
Or Man Utd’s where they’ve successfully tied down a pile of shite for the next few years.
Feels like the players have also taken Tax Free Jim’s ban on working from home a little too literally as well, given their home performances of late.
Inside Liverpool and the ‘new’ FSG: Edwards-Hughes dynamic, scouting revamp and multi-club latest
The club’s scouting network has been revamped in terms of how they gather and record information, with four new regional European scouting jobs created.
Dave Fallows stepped down as director of scouting and recruitment before Christmas, but the department had already been rejigged, with head of scouting operations Craig McKee and head of technical scouting Mark Burchill both following Hughes from Bournemouth to Merseyside last summer.
Matt Newberry, who previously shone as head of senior academy recruitment and head of loan management, was promoted to director of global talent as Liverpool target the type of deals that saw them sign teenagers Trey Nyoni from Leicester City and Rio Ngumoha from Chelsea.
Hughes has led the negotiations with the agents of Van Dijk, Salah and Alexander-Arnold. It was arguably the biggest issue he inherited last year given the trio had been allowed to reach the final 12 months of their existing deals. Pressure from outside the club to seal the three extensions has been intense, especially with Salah and Van Dijk excelling this season, but agreeing extensions has proved problematic.
Beyond that trio, Liverpool have a host of players out of contract in 2027. Hughes is in the process of trying to agree new deals with players such as Conor Bradley and Ibrahima Konate, who will only have a year left on his current contract this summer.
A representative of one player, who has dealt with Hughes since his arrival at Liverpool, says that despite the sensitive nature of discussions and the potential for confrontation, Hughes has a calm, empathetic manner that allows him to negotiate potentially difficult parts of conversations.
Another agent described him as “honest, good to his word, having been thrown into a tricky situation”. Both referenced the fact that Hughes — who is fluent in Italian and French and has conversational Spanish — has to operate within the financial boundaries determined by Edwards.
With the help of assistant David Woodfine, Hughes has reorganised departments at Kirkby and sought to improve the levels of cooperation and understanding between them. He makes himself available for players to discuss their situations or talk through matches, taking some of the burden off Slot and his staff. Like Edwards, he prefers one-on-ones to larger-scale meetings.
With Hughes overseeing coaching, recruitment, negotiations, medical and sports science operations, along with administrative and facilities management at Kirkby, his focus is solely on performance.
Development is the remit for former sporting director Ward, who Edwards installed as FSG technical director last May. Ward has oversight of the academy, loan pathway, and elite player development strategies. That is also the area of expertise for Marques, who was recruited from Benfica and reports directly to Ward.
“One of the biggest factors in my decision is the commitment to acquire and oversee an additional club, growing this area of their organisation,” Edwards said when his appointment was announced last March. “I believe that to remain competitive, investment and expansion of the current football portfolio is necessary.”
Both Ward and Marques will be heavily involved when a second club is belatedly added to FSG’s stable and work is continuing on that front behind the scenes.
Last July, talks took place over a possible takeover of troubled French outfit Bordeaux, but FSG pulled out due to financial concerns. Bordeaux were subsequently demoted to the fourth tier.
An audit of suitable alternatives has since been completed and presented to the FSG hierarchy with 20 clubs analysed from financial, technical and geographical standpoints. Four clubs have been put forward to do due diligence on.
It has been the main focus for FSG Football Group staff since September, with Ward and Marques making numerous visits to prospective clubs. Edwards has liaised with UEFA over multi-club guidelines.
A year on from Edwards’ return, Liverpool have successfully navigated what was expected to be the hardest of transitions, post-Klopp. But with contract sagas to be resolved and expansion plans still in the pipeline, the next phase of FSG’s tenure is still only just taking shape.
The club’s scouting network has been revamped in terms of how they gather and record information, with four new regional European scouting jobs created.
Dave Fallows stepped down as director of scouting and recruitment before Christmas, but the department had already been rejigged, with head of scouting operations Craig McKee and head of technical scouting Mark Burchill both following Hughes from Bournemouth to Merseyside last summer.
Matt Newberry, who previously shone as head of senior academy recruitment and head of loan management, was promoted to director of global talent as Liverpool target the type of deals that saw them sign teenagers Trey Nyoni from Leicester City and Rio Ngumoha from Chelsea.
Hughes has led the negotiations with the agents of Van Dijk, Salah and Alexander-Arnold. It was arguably the biggest issue he inherited last year given the trio had been allowed to reach the final 12 months of their existing deals. Pressure from outside the club to seal the three extensions has been intense, especially with Salah and Van Dijk excelling this season, but agreeing extensions has proved problematic.
Beyond that trio, Liverpool have a host of players out of contract in 2027. Hughes is in the process of trying to agree new deals with players such as Conor Bradley and Ibrahima Konate, who will only have a year left on his current contract this summer.
A representative of one player, who has dealt with Hughes since his arrival at Liverpool, says that despite the sensitive nature of discussions and the potential for confrontation, Hughes has a calm, empathetic manner that allows him to negotiate potentially difficult parts of conversations.
Another agent described him as “honest, good to his word, having been thrown into a tricky situation”. Both referenced the fact that Hughes — who is fluent in Italian and French and has conversational Spanish — has to operate within the financial boundaries determined by Edwards.
With the help of assistant David Woodfine, Hughes has reorganised departments at Kirkby and sought to improve the levels of cooperation and understanding between them. He makes himself available for players to discuss their situations or talk through matches, taking some of the burden off Slot and his staff. Like Edwards, he prefers one-on-ones to larger-scale meetings.
With Hughes overseeing coaching, recruitment, negotiations, medical and sports science operations, along with administrative and facilities management at Kirkby, his focus is solely on performance.
Development is the remit for former sporting director Ward, who Edwards installed as FSG technical director last May. Ward has oversight of the academy, loan pathway, and elite player development strategies. That is also the area of expertise for Marques, who was recruited from Benfica and reports directly to Ward.
“One of the biggest factors in my decision is the commitment to acquire and oversee an additional club, growing this area of their organisation,” Edwards said when his appointment was announced last March. “I believe that to remain competitive, investment and expansion of the current football portfolio is necessary.”
Both Ward and Marques will be heavily involved when a second club is belatedly added to FSG’s stable and work is continuing on that front behind the scenes.
Last July, talks took place over a possible takeover of troubled French outfit Bordeaux, but FSG pulled out due to financial concerns. Bordeaux were subsequently demoted to the fourth tier.
An audit of suitable alternatives has since been completed and presented to the FSG hierarchy with 20 clubs analysed from financial, technical and geographical standpoints. Four clubs have been put forward to do due diligence on.
It has been the main focus for FSG Football Group staff since September, with Ward and Marques making numerous visits to prospective clubs. Edwards has liaised with UEFA over multi-club guidelines.
A year on from Edwards’ return, Liverpool have successfully navigated what was expected to be the hardest of transitions, post-Klopp. But with contract sagas to be resolved and expansion plans still in the pipeline, the next phase of FSG’s tenure is still only just taking shape.
Hasn't managed to sort a single contract extension but gives their agents a cup of tea and a biscuit when they come in, so, all good.
We had this conversation around our winter run of draws/January transfer window. The fact not a single contract has been sorted out, with only 1 squad option coming in is criminal. I’m not counting a keeper we instantly sent out on loan. Any other fan base would be up in arms about it, and I know we’re different, but I honestly feel FSG have conditioned this from us with a continual lack of investment.
Everyone and their dog knew we were playing some players into the ground. We’ve done this multiple seasons in the past, yet some people want to deny it every single year till it’s to late.
He’s got a BIG job on this summer, made all the more difficult he hasn’t managed to get anything sorted all year.
Everyone and their dog knew we were playing some players into the ground. We’ve done this multiple seasons in the past, yet some people want to deny it every single year till it’s to late.
He’s got a BIG job on this summer, made all the more difficult he hasn’t managed to get anything sorted all year.
I'm becoming curious if the club actually want them to re-sign. Is it really a matter of trying to get good value contracts for where Mo and Virgil are at in their careers? Or do they actually wish for them to be off the books and avoid becoming future liabilities but can't publicly state this because of supporter backlash?
That's a deffo possibility.
As someone else said, the club probably has a "take it or leave it" stance on the matter.
Someone from the club will probably do an interview later this year to explain why we let X and Y leave.
And the explanation will probably be something like "we had to choose between building for the future or staying with the status quo".
Depends if that correlates with what 3 say when they leave before then. Always two sides and I'm sure both would come out.
Slot seems more of a yes man than Klopp hence his redfined "Head Coach" role so regardless, proof will be on whom they will rebuild with but it's a huge job.
True
I think with the likes of Salah he has a decision to make, stay in the best league in the world and keep breaking records scoring goals or take the money in a shit farmers league. The club have probably offered the max they're willing to go based on the science/stats/age. So, the balls in his court so to speak
I don't really mind if Salah goes as long as we have a reasonable replacement lined up. I don't see him continuing at a high level more than a couple of years so it's got to be done sooner or later - for me it really boils down to how ready any potential replacement is.
I'll be pissed off if we let VVD go, though.
I'll be pissed off if we let VVD go, though.
My increasing preference this year for Mo to stay has been predicated on my lack faith in adequately replacing him as much as it has been on his own play.
Either we re-sign him or we bring in a top notch, ready to go replacement. The middle ground where we have neither should not be an option.
When the summer transfer window slams shut we'll be able to have a better understanding of the job Richard Hughes has done. The 3 big contracts aren't something I want to use as a stick to beat him with given that he inherited that massive shitshow, and I'm guessing he's been set a limit in terms of what FSG feel they are worth.
How we build this team this summer and set up before next season will be key, and Hughes has a lot of work to do.
How we build this team this summer and set up before next season will be key, and Hughes has a lot of work to do.
I don’t think this is true based on what beamy has said in the past.
I mean, the limit will be set by our wage bill not being in excess of the 80% (or probably 70% because that’s where it’s heading) of our income and whatever money we have in our banking facilities to pay transfer fees.
As boring as it sounds.
It was reported a few days ago that we want them to stay but won’t break the bank. There is quite obviously a limit to what we feel their wage can be given their age. Same with 2 or year contract which has also been mentioned.
Richard Hughes negotiates with the budget he’s given.
It’s not though. He’s given a budget per contract and player most likely.
