Here are THREE Bournemouth players Richard Hughes needs to sign right now

Richard Hughes Liverpool 2024-25
© IMAGO - Richard Hughes Liverpool 2024-25

Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes developed his reputation as technical director at Bournemouth.

The Scot oversaw two promotions for the south coast side, crafting several squads of outstanding quality. And, until the Bill Foley takeover in 2022, he largely did it on a shoestring budget too.

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The effects of Hughes’ recruitment are still being felt around Dean Court with the majority of Andoni Iraola’s squad having been signed under Hughes. Not to mention the fact that Iraola was headhunted by Hughes for the vacant coaching role when Gary O’Neil was dismissed.

He repeated the trick with Arne Slot, who has begun life as Liverpool head coach expertly, but the Reds are still waiting for Hughes’ impact in the transfer market to be felt.

The jury remains out on Federico Chiesa - and Giorgi Mamardashvili won’t arrive until next summer. But if Hughes is minded to, then he could revisit some of his old-stagers at Bournemouth because there are a few top performers there who could do a job for Liverpool.

The squad requires a replenishment in the next transfer window - especially if Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk leave.

If Hughes leans on his contacts and helps FSG carry out some deals then Bournemouth could be a rich quarry for the Reds next summer.

Ahead of the Premier League clash between the two sides next weekend here we run through some Bournemouth players we think Liverpool should sign.

DEAN HUIJSEN - CENTRE-BACK

The decision by Juventus to sanction as sale of the teenage centre-back last summer for a fee in the region of €15m - rising to €18m - looks worse by the week. Liverpool were also linked at the time.

The Dutch-born Spaniard has been a revelation since making his definitive breakthrough into the Bournemouth first team back in December.

Since then he has solidified the Cherries’ backline alongside another fine central defender in Illya Zabarnyi with Bournemouth now on an 11-match unbeaten Premier League run.

The Premier League's 'Chill Guy' has even got a couple of goals to his name too.

Hughes can’t take the credit for this one - Huijsen wasn’t signed under his watch - but it is a transfer which goes to show that Bournemouth’s shrewd practices remain intact.

Juventus, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Chelsea are reported to be among the teams keeping an eye on the 19-year-old, who is surely destined for bigger and better things.

With Liverpool needing a replacement for Van Dijk - and Ibrahima Konate’s future in doubt - the Reds could do worse than test Bournemouth’s resolve. Moreover, it's been reported he's got a release clause which becomes active next summer.

MILOS KERKEZ - LEFT-BACK

Much is known about Hungarian left-back Kerkez in Liverpool’s corridors of power. Signed by Hughes back in 2023 from AZ in the Netherlands - a former club of Slot - the 21-year-old has been carefully nurtured into one of the best performers in the division.

The fee was reported to be in the region of £12m, meaning Bournemouth stand to cash in massively when the time comes for him to move on.

This season he has got two Premier League goals and three assists, with his productivity and energy long impressing the decision-makers at Anfield. Kerkez is a target who could come into the club to replace legend Andy Robertson.

Given his age and profile, he could well marshall the Reds’ backline for a decade to come.

ANTOINE SEMENYO - WINGER

One of the most exciting attackers in the division, Ghana international Semenyo is now flourishing under the guidance of Iraola.

Another who has contributed extensively to the Cherries’ long unbeaten run, the 25-year-old has scored seven times in the Premier League this term and added three assists.

An archetypal Bournemouth transfer under Hughes, Semenyo was plucked from Bristol City for around £10m back in January 2023, and has now established himself as a top Premier League talent.

Liverpool have already been tentatively linked with a move for the wide forward and, with uncertainty over both Salah and Luis Diaz, he could provide an intriguing solution to an impending problem on either side of the attack.

Having just signed a contract extension, extracting him from the Vitality Stadium will be no easy task. Can Hughes sign him a second time?

READ MORE: Club boss confirms he is ready to sell star player to Liverpool

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