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Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes has again been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, with reports of interest from Al Hilal.
Hughes joined Liverpool from Bournemouth in the summer of 2024 alongside Arne Slot and played a key role in the squad overhaul that followed, helping the club secure the Premier League title last season.
Hughes is not the only Liverpool figure linked with a move to the Middle East – Mohamed Salah has also been frequently linked, though his contract runs until 2027.
Al Hilal, currently second in the Saudi Pro League behind Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr, have Hughes on a three-strong shortlist for their sporting director role.
Their squad includes former Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez, along with ex-Premier League stars Ruben Neves, Joao Cancelo, and Kalidou Koulibaly, although Nunez has been frozen out.
This season has been challenging for Liverpool, who sit fifth in the Premier League and are fighting for Champions League qualification. They trail 1-0 from the first leg of their round-of-16 tie against Galatasaray.
Slot, whose contract also runs until 2027, has stressed that missing out on the Champions League would be a failure this summer. In February, Hughes and head coach Arne Slot participated in a roundtable discussion, presenting a united front for Liverpool during a challenging season.
“Fundamentally, there’s the understanding for both parties and everyone at wide, that everything involving matchday, team selection, tactics, that’s always the manager or head coach,” Hughes said of his relationship with Slot.
“That’s their domain. It’s very important not to step into that. Of course, we talk about football and performances, but I always let Arne lead that. Naturally, in a conversation, I will come up with an opinion and not just react to Arne’s, but always waiting for the right time to share these things is critical.
Reports on Monday emerged that Al-Hilal have reached an agreement to appoint Richard Hughes as their sporting director. However, according to The Telegraph, Al Hilal have yet to contact Liverpool about Hughes, and there has been no discussion over the 46-year-old’s future or indication that he might be interested in leaving.
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