It would be an understatement to suggest the year at Liverpool has been inconsistent in terms of work on and off the pitch, but there could be even more change coming.

The Reds changed strategy last summer to splash the cash on several high-profile signings in a record-breaking transfer window filled with plenty of hope.

There was a plan to transition from one successful squad to another over time, but it hasn’t been a smooth one at all, with Arne Slot only just guiding Liverpool back into the Champions League.

Ultimately, performances cost the manager his job, where he has since been replaced by Andoni Iraola, but the changes don’t stop there.

The summer transfer window this summer will be focused on bringing in players to replace outgoing stars, making more subtle adjustments to those of last year.

While that is certainly the plan, another change behind-the-scenes threatens to impact Liverpool’s ability to consistently improve.

Richard Hughes In Exit Talks

Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes has been in charge of building the squad since he made the move to Anfield from Bournemouth in 2024.

It came after a chaotic churn of sporting directors in years prior that left the Reds in need of some long-term vision to get back to the top.

While the eventual hire of Slot worked out for at least his first season, the recent difficulties in the market brought up questions over Hughes’ future, combined with the fact that his contract only runs until 2027.

With that in mind, Sky Sports journalist Sacha Tavolieri reports that the 46-year-old is in advanced talks to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal in the near future.

It’s stated that he will become the club’s new sporting director, but with the plan to finish up his work at Liverpool for the transfer window before he leaves.

That move will leave the club hierarchy considering their options, as the sporting director’s exit will force them into finding a new hire to take up the role.

For the owners, Fenway Sports Group, there is a wider concern to factor into such a move.

FSG Liverpool Concern

When it comes to Liverpool’s future under FSG, there may be concerns over the long-term vision that the club currently has in place to get back to the top.

Some of the club’s recent decline can largely be put down to chaos off the field that has translated onto it. After the exit of Michael Edwards in 2022, Liverpool had Julian Ward for one year before he left, and then Jorg Schmadtke for a year before his own exit, and then the arrival of Hughes.

Three new directors in two years, combined with Jurgen Klopp waving farewell to the club, have then directly translated into the lack of alignment.

Contract situations, such as Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate, Mohamed Salah, and Virgil van Dijk in the past two years have stemmed from a lack of consistency in being able to make key decisions.

Changes in the backroom have often meant Liverpool are playing catch-up with key decisions, and while the Premier League title victory offered some hope that the club are still at the top, the most recent season sheds some light on the mess that is really underneath.

In losing Hughes, the Reds are now searching for another director, who may have different ideas from the current team in place, which means even more changes.

At a time when the club just made another huge decision, dismissing Slot and bringing in Iraola, signalling yet more change will be a concern.

What Liverpool need right now is a long-term vision. A path back to the top. The next appointment has to be with that in mind.

It would be an understatement to suggest the year at Liverpool has been inconsistent in terms of work on and off the pitch, but there could be even more change coming.

The Reds changed strategy last summer to splash the cash on several high-profile signings in a record-breaking transfer window filled with plenty of hope.

There was a plan to transition from one successful squad to another over time, but it hasn’t been a smooth one at all, with Arne Slot only just guiding Liverpool back into the Champions League.

Ultimately, performances cost the manager his job, where he has since been replaced by Andoni Iraola, but the changes don’t stop there.

The summer transfer window this summer will be focused on bringing in players to replace outgoing stars, making more subtle adjustments to those of last year.

While that is certainly the plan, another change behind-the-scenes threatens to impact Liverpool’s ability to consistently improve.

Richard Hughes In Exit Talks

Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes has been in charge of building the squad since he made the move to Anfield from Bournemouth in 2024.

It came after a chaotic churn of sporting directors in years prior that left the Reds in need of some long-term vision to get back to the top.

While the eventual hire of Slot worked out for at least his first season, the recent difficulties in the market brought up questions over Hughes’ future, combined with the fact that his contract only runs until 2027.

With that in mind, Sky Sports journalist Sacha Tavolieri reports that the 46-year-old is in advanced talks to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal in the near future.

It’s stated that he will become the club’s new sporting director, but with the plan to finish up his work at Liverpool for the transfer window before he leaves.

That move will leave the club hierarchy considering their options, as the sporting director’s exit will force them into finding a new hire to take up the role.

For the owners, Fenway Sports Group, there is a wider concern to factor into such a move.

FSG Liverpool Concern

When it comes to Liverpool’s future under FSG, there may be concerns over the long-term vision that the club currently has in place to get back to the top.

Some of the club’s recent decline can largely be put down to chaos off the field that has translated onto it. After the exit of Michael Edwards in 2022, Liverpool had Julian Ward for one year before he left, and then Jorg Schmadtke for a year before his own exit, and then the arrival of Hughes.

Three new directors in two years, combined with Jurgen Klopp waving farewell to the club, have then directly translated into the lack of alignment.

Contract situations, such as Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate, Mohamed Salah, and Virgil van Dijk in the past two years have stemmed from a lack of consistency in being able to make key decisions.

Changes in the backroom have often meant Liverpool are playing catch-up with key decisions, and while the Premier League title victory offered some hope that the club are still at the top, the most recent season sheds some light on the mess that is really underneath.

In losing Hughes, the Reds are now searching for another director, who may have different ideas from the current team in place, which means even more changes.

At a time when the club just made another huge decision, dismissing Slot and bringing in Iraola, signalling yet more change will be a concern.

What Liverpool need right now is a long-term vision. A path back to the top. The next appointment has to be with that in mind.

Tottenham Hotspur are in club-to-club talks with Brighton and Hove Albion over a deal for Jan Paul van Hecke, with a new meeting scheduled for this week, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Tottenham have got their summer off to a strong start with two full agreements for new signings reached a week before the transfer window even opens.

Andy Robertson’s move is already confirmed after he left Liverpool following the expiry of his contract this summer, while he is set to be joined at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium by another free agent in Marcos Senesi, with an announcement on the Argentine’s arrival expected imminently.

Spurs don’t appear to be anywhere near done with those two deals though, and there could soon be another defender joining the club in Van Hecke, if Roberto De Zerbi and club chiefs have their way.

The north Londoners are also working on strengthening their attacking options after scoring just 48 goals in their 38 Premier League matches this season.

A Tottenham deal is on and progressing for Manchester City left-winger Savinho, according to Romano, while they are also reportedly considering a move for unhappy Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo with some long-term injury issues to deal with.

Van Hecke Wants to Join Tottenham

Tottenham aren’t messing around when it comes to bolstering a defence that has conceded 183 goals across the previous three Premier League seasons.

With Robertson done and Senesi looking to be imminent, Spurs are now focused on getting a deal for Brighton star Van Hecke across the line.

According to Romano, posting on X on Monday, Tottenham remain in club-to-club talks with the Seagulls over a deal with new talks planned for this week.

The 26-year-old ‘monster’ has made it clear that he wants to link up with De Zerbi for a second time, with the Italian also wanting him at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for next season.

Separate reports from the centre-back’s homeland claim that he has already agreed personal terms with the north Londoners, and he only wants to join them despite interest from other Premier League clubs.

Tottenham Defence Set for Major Transformation

With Robertson and Senesi set to arrive, the addition of Van Hecke would suggest there could be some big changes coming at the heart of Spurs’ defence this summer.

De Zerbi’s current options there are captain Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Kevin Danso and Radu Dragusin.

Should Senesi and Van Hecke both join, it would point to there being at least one exit coming up this summer, and potentially two.

Dragusin has been a bit-part player for a long time now so his exit wouldn’t be too surprising, but you would suspect that one of Romero or Van de Ven would be on their way too.

The Spurs skipper has long been linked with a move away from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and this may be the summer where he does go.

GIVEMESPORT sources have suggested that Van de Ven, despite attracting interest from clubs like Liverpool, is actually open to extending his contract at Spurs under the leadership of De Zerbi.