PSG send LOUD transfer message to Richard Hughes and Liverpool

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Paris Saint-Germain gave Liverpool and Richard Hughes a loud transfer message. But were they listening?

Richard Hughes didn't have the biggest summer transfer window in 2024. In fact, he didn't really have to do anything.

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Liverpool tried and failed to sign Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad. They got very close but ultimately, the player didn't want to leave his boyhood club.

Though, it does appear he won't have the same hesitancy this summer.

The only actual incoming for Arne Slot was Federico Chiesa but we're not sure he was viewed as an actual addition. Slot has barely used him and it strikes us at this point that Chiesa is really a short-term investment that Liverpool can flip for profit.

Maybe that's just extra cynical but all the signs point that way.

2025 will be different. Hughes is set to be incredibly busy as Liverpool deal with high-profile exits and a desire to completely reshape their attack.

It won't be easy and if Hughes is to do it right, he should learn from the lesson Paris Saint-Germain just taught.

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PSG's transfer lesson

PSG were fantastic against Liverpool and while there are many lessons to take away from the two legs, the construction of the French squad is a massive one. It's a model the Reds should follow.

They've moved away from the Galactico-lite strategy of the past and instead focused on signing massively talented French players. Of course, they bring in non-French players as well but there's been a concerted effort to snap up French talent where possible.

2023 saw a clear-out. Neymar left - the poster boy of their push to be an elite club - as well as Lionel Messi, Sergio Ramos, Marco Veratti, Leandro Paredes, Mauro Icardi, Gini Wijnaldum, Julian Draxler, and Renato Sanches.

PSG then spent a large amount of money on Hugo Ekitike, Lucas Hernandez, Ousmane Dembele, Bradley Barcola and Randal Kolo-Muani. French talent after French talent, in other words.

2024 saw a new French wonderkid arrive - Desire Doue. He's now kicked on to become an incredibly useful player for them.

READ MORE: Michael Edwards lining up DREAM double deal for Liverpool

Now, not every signing has been a success. Hernandez, for one, tore his ACL last May.

Ekitike and Kolo Muani both failed and moved on - though in both instances look bizarre given their form for their new clubs. It's easy to say that PSG got their signings correct, they just couldn't use them correctly.

But the point is that PSG underwent the rebuild that Liverpool hope to perform this summer. They deliberately didn't sign 'galacticos' and instead picked up talented players who were probably slightly undervalued for one reason or another.

The result is a team with a French core that plays fluidly together. They have absolutely zero concerns over homegrown players, too - something Liverpool need to keep an eye on with so many potential leaving after this season.

We're not saying the Reds need to go out and only buy English players this summer. Far from it, in fact.

We do think they can rebuild the core of this squad with players like Marc Guehi, Adam Wharton, Lewis Hall, Anthony Gordon and Tyler Dibling. All players they've been linked with and all players who could help build an impressive core at Liverpool.

And importantly, all players who can be secured for reasonable prices and potentially develop to the elite level. It worked for PSG and we're convinced it can work for Liverpool.

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