Liverpool boost as Saudi club moves on from Richard Hughes and new target emerges
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Al Hilal have reportedly turned their attention to departing Bournemouth technical director Simon Francis rather than Liverpool's Richard Hughes ahead of the summer windowRichard Hughes was announced as Liverpool's new sporting director on March 20, 2024(Image: Getty)Liverpool's sporting director Richard Hughes appears set to remain at Anfield after Al Hilal shifted its attention to a new target, with Bournemouth technical director Simon Francis emerging as a leading candidate for the Saudi Pro League club instead.The Athletic reported that Francis, 41, is set to leave Bournemouth at the end of the season following a 15-year association with the south coast club. Al Hilal is among the potential destinations for the former Bournemouth captain, alongside other unnamed suitors, though nothing has been signed at this stage.The development offers a significant boost to Liverpool, who had been monitoring Al Hilal's pursuit of Hughes with concern given the Saudi club's persistent interest and considerable financial resources.
It comes as Jamie Carragher revealed his long-term Liverpool 'worry' after calling for summer transfer action.READ MORE: How many points Liverpool needs to qualify for Champions League after Man Utd defeatREAD MORE: Liverpool player ratings, winners and losers vs Man Utd as Szoboszlai good but 3 really struggleAl Hilal, managed by former Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi and backed by the Public Investment Fund, had previously identified Hughes as a leading contender for its sporting director role.Reports from TEAMtalk suggested the Saudi side had already tabled proposals to convince Hughes to make the move. Hughes is contracted at Liverpool until summer 2027 and is fully expected to be in position for the club's upcoming transfer window.With Al Hilal's attention apparently turning to Francis, Liverpool can focus on the task at hand, and Hughes has reportedly wasted no time in doing exactly that.Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes(Image: Getty Images)According to a report from Anfield Index, the sporting director is a significant admirer of Sporting CP attacking midfielder Francisco Trincão and has already made serious enquiries about a potential summer move.Trincão signed a new contract with Sporting last month that contains a €60 million release clause, and with Mohamed Salah confirmed to be leaving Anfield at the end of the season, the 26-year-old Portugal international has been identified as a potential replacement profile.Francis's departure from Bournemouth, meanwhile, represents the conclusion of a remarkable chapter.
He joined Bournemouth on loan from Charlton in 2011, made the move permanent the following January, and went on to make more than 300 appearances for the club as a central figure in Eddie Howe's squads that climbed from League One to the Premier League.Arne Slot speaks with sporting director Richard Hughes after lifting the Premier League title last season(Image: Kieran McManus/REX/Shutterstock)After retiring from playing in 2020, he transitioned into the recruitment department, working under his former teammate Hughes before being promoted to technical director when Hughes departed for Liverpool in 2024.In that role, Francis oversaw some of the most lucrative transfer work in Bournemouth's history, including the sale of Antoine Semenyo to Manchester City for £62.5 million in January and the purchase and subsequent sale of Dean Huijsen, bought from Juventus for €15 million and sold to Real Madrid for around £50 million.He leaves with the club sitting seventh in the Premier League and eyeing European football.When he took the technical director role in 2024, Francis paid tribute to the man whose path he was following. "From playing together in the same Eddie Howe team to working together off the pitch has been the perfect apprenticeship for me."