Liverpool’s summer hinges on Salah successor hunt despite Hughes exit claim

Liverpool’s transfer activity this summer is defined by the search for Mohamed Salah’s successor, with the club’s plans remaining unchanged despite reports of sporting director Richard Hughes’ imminent departure. Inside Anfield, the message is clear: “Business as usual” is the operating principle, with Hughes “fully focused on the current window” and tasked with building a squad “capable of competing for honours in 2026-27.”

The priority remains finding a replacement for Salah, a reality Liverpool have not shied away from. The club’s most ambitious move targeted RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande, but Liverpool’s €100million package was rejected after it emerged the Ivory Coast international prefers a move to European champions PSG if he leaves Leipzig this summer. The rejection underscores Liverpool’s willingness to spend big when the right target aligns with their needs.

Other names now feature prominently on Liverpool’s radar. PSG’s France international Bradley Barcola is admired by Liverpool, while Brighton & Hove Albion’s Yankuba Minteh, Said El Mala of Köln and Lille’s Matias Fernandez-Pardo are listed as possible alternatives. The diversity of profiles reflects the complexity of the task ahead.

The expected exit of Hughes to Al Hilal adds another layer of scrutiny, though the club insists there is no operational disruption. Senior figures maintain “business as usual,” stressing that shortlists are built, background checks completed and financial boundaries set months in advance. Still, Hughes’ role in negotiating deals while his future is elsewhere ensures the situation remains under the microscope.

Outgoings may shape Liverpool’s summer as much as incomings, with ongoing uncertainty surrounding Curtis Jones and Federico Chiesa. Liverpool rejected a bid of around €25million for Jones from Inter last month, while the academy graduate enters the final year of his contract. The juxtaposition of a strong offer and contract expiry raises questions about his future role under manager Pep Iraola.

Chiesa’s situation is simpler but equally telling. He has been linked with a return to Italy after struggling for game time last season. When minutes dry up and domestic links persist, the direction of travel is usually clear. Liverpool need attackers who are available, trusted and tactically indispensable on a weekly basis.

Liverpool have made modest progress already. Spanish winger Victor Munoz, signed from Osasuna, is the only arrival announced this summer, while French defender Jeremy Jacquet completed his move to Anfield after a £60million deal was agreed in January. The market will judge the summer’s work on whether Liverpool land the right winger, resolve the futures of Jones and Chiesa, and whether Hughes’ exit remains a footnote rather than the defining subplot.