Liverpool have identified Bournemouth's president of football Tiago Pinto as a candidate to succeed Richard Hughes as sporting director. The search, led by FSG president Mike Gordon, is considering both internal and external options for the role Hughes vacated after the summer transfer window.
Gordon is overseeing the process to find a successor. The club's ownership group said it is "considering both candidates already within the Liverpool structure and a number of external options."
Hughes, who joined Liverpool from Bournemouth in 2024, served for just over two years before his anticipated move to Al-Hilal. His departure allowed Liverpool to complete their recruitment business before he stepped down.
Internal candidates in the frame
Julian Ward, the former Liverpool sporting director who now serves as FSG's technical director, is viewed as a likely internal candidate. David Woodfine, the assistant sporting director who worked closely with Hughes, is also under consideration.
Other internal figures being discussed include Pedro Marques, the FSG director of football development, and Matt Newberry, Liverpool's global head of talent management. The belief within FSG is that an internal appointment remains the most probable outcome.
External options assessed
Among the external names being examined is Christoph Freund, the sporting director at Bayern Munich. Freund extended his contract with the German champions until 2029 and is not expected to leave imminently.
Liverpool have also assessed the work of Carlalberto Ludi, the architect behind Como's remarkable rise from Serie D to Serie A and the Champions League. His role encompasses player strategy, recruitment, and long-term planning.
Brentford's technical director Lee Dykes is another Premier League figure who has been examined by the Liverpool ownership.
Bournemouth connection
Tiago Pinto's candidacy is notable given his existing connection to the current Liverpool manager, Andoni Iraola. The pair worked together at Bournemouth, where Pinto oversees football operations and recruitment. His experience in these areas has placed him on Liverpool's radar.
The news comes as Bournemouth prepare to host Liverpool at the Vitality Stadium this weekend. Andoni Iraola's side currently sit 15th in the Premier League with three points from four games. Their most recent result was a 2-2 draw with Brentford, a match that featured goals from Justin Kluivert and Marcus Tavernier.
Marcus Tavernier is the club's top scorer this season with three goals. The squad continues to deal with injuries to several players, including Amine Adli and Julián Araujo, whose status can be tracked on our injuries page. The search for Hughes' replacement is a key piece of background as these two clubs, linked by personnel moves, prepare to meet on the pitch.
The report in full is at Football365
