Sporting director Hughes set to leave Liverpool next year

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Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes is not expected to sign a new deal to remain at the club beyond 2027.Hughes' current contract expires next June and BBC Sport understands he is likely to link up with former Bournemouth colleague Simon Francis at Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal.Al Hilal and Francis are operating on the basis that Hughes will join the club.Francis replaced Hughes as Bournemouth's technical director when Hughes was hired by Liverpool owner's Fenway Sports Group in 2024 and is now leading Al Hilal's transfer activity, having left the Cherries at the end of the season.As it stands, Hughes and Liverpool are focused solely on the current transfer window and the forthcoming season, which is the first for Andoni Iraola, since he replaced Arne Slot.Liverpool have signed French defender Jeremy Jacquet and Spanish winger Victor Munoz this summer, with the former's signature secured in January before Iraola's arrival.Midfielder Harvey Elliott is also set to return to the club after his loan spell at Aston Villa expired.Liverpool continue to be linked with attackers including Paris St-Germain's Bradley Barcola, but are set to be disappointed in their pursuit of Ivory Coast star Yan Diomande, who prefers a move to PSG this summer.