​Richard Hughes is likely to step down from his role at Liverpool by the end of the current summer window, but for now he remains the Reds’ sporting director and is the principal figure handling Liverpool’s bids and negotiations. Naturally, Michael Edwards and Andoni Iraola will have input into recruitment, but the bulk of the work will come from Hughes. Even as he prepares to exit, his responsibility to Liverpool’s best interests stays front and center, and at present it appears he could be maximizing the summer transfer window less effectively than one might expect. He did manage to recruit Victor Munoz, yet there is one potential return that would bring a wide smile to the majority of Liverpool fans: Mohamed Salah.
Salah only recently severed his contract with Liverpool, at the end of June, as he sought a new challenge after Arne Slot failed to utilize him in a way befitting his talent. Slot’s management also left Salah on the bench on numerous occasions during the season, something that did not sit well with supporters of a player of such quality. While Salah’s performances have dipped from his peak in previous campaigns, that does not justify the level of isolation he endured. Following his standout display against Argentina in the 2026 World Cup, there is a growing sense that Hughes must do everything possible to bring the Egyptian king back to Anfield.
With Iraola now in charge, Salah would likely require little convincing to fit into his plans, and he could address Liverpool’s principal recruitment need: a new right winger. Even Pep Guardiola has lauded Salah as an “absolute legend,” underscoring the level of quality he still possesses. The task for the club remains to secure a strong right-side option. While players such as Federico Chiesa and Jeremie Frimpong could operate there, neither is universally regarded as a Premier League-winning presence in their current form, and their arrival would not automatically resolve Liverpool’s issues on that flank.
The ongoing question, then, is Salah’s future. There remains a slender possibility that Liverpool could persuade him to return, should talks progress favorably. In the round of 16 clash between Egypt and Argentina, Salah did not register a shot on target, yet his influence in other phases of the game stood out. Sofascore recorded an 86 percent pass accuracy for Salah over the 90 minutes he played and noted that he advanced the ball by 106.4 meters, highlighting the constructive contribution he can still offer when deployed effectively. These metrics suggest that, with the right environment and system, Salah could once again be a transformative asset for Liverpool.
Looking ahead, the club’s window hinges on strategic decisions about the right winger role and whether Salah’s bond with the club can be reignited. Iraola’s framework could make it easier to reintegrate Salah if the agreement is right and the plan is clear. If Liverpool can align on a pathway that maximizes Salah’s strengths while addressing the squad’s needs on the right side, they could reestablish a potent attacking dynamic. Hughes, even as he transitions away, will be integral to shaping a deal that benefits Liverpool in the short term and positions them for sustained success.