Harry Redknapp stunned by Hughes as Liverpool chief seals mammoth transfer
Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes has had a busy month as he celebrates one year at Anfield.
Hughes, 45, was previously in charge of recruitment at Bournemouth before leaving at the end of the 2023/24 season.
The Glaswegian linked up with Reds CEO Michael Edwards, with the pair having met during their time at Portsmouth, often spotted in the analyst room together.
Redknapp amazed at Liverpool’s Wirtz coup
Former Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp managed Hughes for two years of his nine-year stay on the south coast.
Redknapp, whose son Jamie played over 200 Liverpool games, was left amazed at Hughes’ business since he joined the Premier League champions.
Hughes was the driving force behind the Reds’ signing of German star Florian Wirtz.
The Scotsman first spoke to the Wirtz family in March, and he was there to greet the playmaker when he arrived in Manchester on 19 June.
Speaking to The Mail on Sunday (pg 88, 22 June), Redknapp said: “Richard is so knowledgeable and he knows pretty much every player around Europe.
“His recruitment is smart, and he is an encyclopaedia of football.”
Hughes used to wind up Edwards, who Redknapp would call the ‘laptop guru’, when they were at Portsmouth together.
The pair would later butt heads when Hughes was in charge of recruitment at Bournemouth.
Hughes most notably challenged Liverpool for the signings of Andy Robertson and Sadio Mane before Edwards lured them away.
The signing of Wirtz is a mammoth coup for Hughes as Liverpool beat Real Madrid to his signature.
Hughes could be key to Liverpool’s Premier League domination
Hughes has flown under the radar for Liverpool.
The former defensive midfielder had a humble playing career, representing Bournemouth in two separate spells on either side of his time at Fratton Park.
However, since setting foot into the world of recruitment, Hughes helped Bournemouth charge up the football pyramid and made them a stable Premier League side.
Edwards was himself surprised that no other European heavyweight had attempted to land Hughes, much to his benefit on Merseyside.
After landing so many big signings this summer, Hughes and Edwards look to be a pairing that could make Liverpool dominant for years to come, starting with the addition of Wirtz.
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