Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards, two of the most influential figures behind Liverpool's transfer strategy, are expected to retain their roles throughout the upcoming summer transfer period, despite lingering questions about their long‑term prospects. Their continued presence comes at a pivotal moment for the club, which is looking to regroup after a lackluster title defence and the ongoing uncertainty surrounding manager Arne Slot's future. Edwards originally recruited Hughes from Bournemouth in the summer of 2024, appointing him to the sporting director post when Edwards returned to Anfield as the head of football for Fenway Sports Group (FSG).
Both executives have contracts that run until 2027, and the board appears keen to keep them in place for what is shaping up to be a decisive transfer window at Liverpool. The club endured a turbulent season after splurging on a record‑breaking £500 million of Premier League spending last summer – a sum that ultimately failed to deliver the expected progress on the pitch. Nonetheless, internal sources suggest that FSG remains satisfied with the work Hughes and Edwards have done, particularly in navigating a massive overhaul of the squad while still managing to generate significant revenue through player sales. One of the foremost tasks for the summer will be to find a suitable replacement for Mohamed Salah, whose contract situation is expected to dominate negotiations.
In addition, the board will need to maximise the impact of high‑profile acquisitions such as Alexander Isak, signed for roughly £125 million, and Florian Wirtz, who arrived for about £116.5 million. Both players arrived with lofty expectations, and the club will be looking to integrate them effectively to restore the attacking potency that characterised the title‑winning campaign.
Since the summer of 2024, Hughes and Edwards have overseen a cumulative outlay of £459 million on incoming talent, with the bulk of that expenditure occurring in the 2024‑25 window. Notable signings have included Isak, Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili and defender Giovanni Leoni. While these purchases represented an ambitious attempt to refresh the squad, the pair have also balanced the books by offloading roughly £290 million worth of players. Departures have featured high‑profile names such as Luis Diaz, Darwin Núñez, Ben Gannon Doak, Fabio Carvalho, Sepp van den Berg, Jarell Quansah, Caoimhin Kelleher and long‑serving captain Trent Alexander‑Arnold.
The summer market will also be coloured by external speculation about Hughes' future. Reports have linked him with a potential move to Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal, a club that has been actively courting European executives in recent months. At the same time, FSG's tentative plans to develop a multi‑club ownership model have raised questions about Edwards' role, as the group reportedly paused those ambitions.
Edwards himself has cited the prospect of overseeing an additional club as a major factor in his decision to return to Liverpool in March 2024, positioning himself as a key architect of the post‑Klopp era. Both executives were instrumental in appointing Arne Slot as Klopp’s successor, a decision that initially paid dividends as Slot guided Liverpool to a league title in his debut season. However, the subsequent shift in transfer philosophy – moving from a modest £12.5 million summer spend that saw the arrival of Federico Chiesa to a record‑breaking £446.5 million blitz – has not yielded the desired results. The club, which once lifted the league by a comfortable ten‑point margin, now finds itself battling for a Champions League spot, currently perched in fifth place with six games remaining, while Chelsea trails just four points behind in sixth.
The list of signings from the last window reads like a shopping list of high‑profile targets: 1. Federico Chiesa – acquired from Juventus for £12.5 million.
2. Milos Kerkez – secured from Bournemouth for £40 million. 3.
Jeremie Frimpong – joined from Bayer Leverkusen for £29.5 million. 4. Giorgi Mamardashvili – arrived from Valencia for £29 million. 5.
Florian Wirtz – transferred from Bayer Leverkusen for £116.5 million. 6.
Hugo Ekitike – signed from Eintracht Frankfurt for £79 million. 7.
Giovanni Leoni – brought in from Parma for £26 million. 8. Alexander Isak – signed from Newcastle for £125 million. These acquisitions illustrate the scale of the investment that Hughes and Edwards have overseen, as well as the pressure to turn that spending into tangible success on the field.
The club’s leadership will be watching closely to see whether the new arrivals can adapt quickly, deliver goals, and help Liverpool reclaim its status among Europe’s elite. Beyond the immediate transfer agenda, the summer will also be a test of the strategic vision that Hughes and Edwards have championed. Their ability to balance big‑ticket signings with profitable player sales, maintain squad harmony, and support a manager under scrutiny will determine whether they remain integral to Liverpool’s hierarchy beyond 2027.
As the transfer window approaches, fans and pundits alike will be keenly observing the club’s moves, hoping that the blend of experienced leadership and fresh talent can reignite the fortunes of a team that once seemed unstoppable.