- Liverpool were once known for their shrewd signings
- Richard Hughes may have one such deal up his sleeve
- The Reds are working on a smart £60million transfer ahead of the summer
Liverpool once made rivals envious with their smart business in the transfer market. That reputation has faded in the last few years, but Richard Hughes could turn things around.
Liverpool have won every major competition they competed in between 2015 and 2024 during Jurgen Klopp’s nine-year tenure.
What made those triumphs all the more merrier was the fact that they were built on the Fenway Sports Group’s (FSG) self-sustainable model.
The owners being stubborn that Liverpool only spent money that they earned meant that Klopp often did not have as many financial resources as the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United or Manchester City.
However, in Michael Edwards, the Anfield outfit had a shrewd sporting director capable of striking deals that others could only dream of.
During Edwards’ stint as sporting director between 2016 and 2022, the club sold Christian Benteke to Crystal Palace for a deal worth £32.5million, while signing Mohamed Salah for an initial £34m.
The Merseyside-based club rarely broke the bank on new signings. Before Virgil van Dijk’s £75m arrival in 2018 from Southampton, Benteke’s £32.5m signing from Aston Villa in 2015 was their most expensive signing.
Liverpool need to be shrewd again
Things have changed now, as evidenced by the club spending over £100m on Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz in a single window last summer.
With that, Liverpool’s hit rate in the transfer market also appears to have dwindled.
Hughes, who has been the club’s sporting director since 2024, could change that with some sharp signings this summer.
It could start with the £60m signing of Rafael Leao from AC Milan.
According to the Daily Mail, Arne Slot’s side are interested in signing the Portugal international this summer.
Milan are prepared to cash in on some of their players to balance their books ahead of next season, and Leao could be sold for £60m.
Liverpool are among those who believe that the deal presents excellent value, with the attacker racking up 10 goals and three assists in 27 games for the Italian giants this season.
The six-time European champions have already made enquiries for Leao. There is a preference to finalise the deal for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Apart from the Reds, Manchester City, Manchester United and Real Madrid are also in the mix.
Leao would be excellent signing
At 26, Leao is not as young as Liverpool would like their new signings to be, but there is no doubt that he would still be an excellent signing.
As an attacker, he is comfortable playing both as a striker and a left winger. He could add the much-needed pace to the left side of the attack that Cody Gakpo has failed to provide.
He could provide cover for Hugo Ekitike, who is sidelined with a long-term injury to his Achilles.
Leao might not turn heads as he used to a couple of years ago, but that is exactly why he would be such a smart signing by Hughes.
It is the kind of signing Liverpool had a reputation for making under Edwards years ago.
