Richard Hughes has been given the green light for the perfect parting gift for Liverpool.
Richard Hughes will, by all accounts, not oversee another transfer window with Liverpool. The sporting director is expected to join Al-Hilal before long, linking back up with former assistant Steve Francis, who’s already working at the Saudi Pro League side.
But he certainly has some work to do. In fact, he has quite a lot of work to do if he’s to avoid leaving Liverpool as a genuine flop.
The massive issue that needs immediate work is what to do on the right flank. Mohamed Salah’s exit has left a massive void there and there really isn’t much of a market to pick from.
Salah’s six goals and six assists last season are actually standout numbers on the right across Europe’s top five leagues last season. Very, very few players beat them and those who did are unobtainable.
It’s left us wondering exactly who Hughes and Liverpool could possibly move for, especially as this signing will ultimately be his parting gift. We keep going back to the same player, though: Ibrahim Mbaye.
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Paris Saint-Germain are up for selling the teenager and he actively wants to leave, says Fabrizio Romano. If he wasn’t already sure about that, Maghnes Akliouche heading to Paris will convince him – PSG are moving onto new ideas.
There is no bigger talent that Liverpool could sign. Now, are there better ready-made players? Absolutely, as Mbaye is only 18. But his ceiling far outgrows any other options.
The natural development partnership with Rio Ngumoha is there, too. The pair were the only wingers 18 and under to register 500 top-flight minutes across the top five leagues last season.
Hughes, then, has a green light to sign an elite talent. One who could be the future of Liverpool’s attack, with potential comparable to Ngumoha’s.
No, he won’t come cheap and there will be much competition. But Mbaye is ready to move on and Liverpool can give him exactly the kind of home that he’s after.
What a parting gift he could be.
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