Liverpool FC have begun their search for a new sporting director following Richard Hughes's decision to pursue a new challenge in Saudi Arabia. Mike Gordon, president of Fenway Sports Group, is overseeing the process to find a long-term successor for the fifth time since 2022.

The club are keen to make a swift appointment and will consider both internal and external candidates.

David Woodfine, Hughes's assistant and the club's former director of loans, is a potential internal candidate. Woodfine was pictured giving manager Andoni Iraola a tour of the AXA Training Centre when he arrived in June. Former sporting director Julian Ward, who oversaw the signings of Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo, Alexis Mac Allister and Darwin Nunez between 2022 and 2023, is now FSG's technical director and could be considered.

Pedro Marques, FSG's director of football development, is another figure within the ownership group. He previously served as technical director at Benfica, where he helped sign Enzo Fernandez for £10m, and was a first-team performance analyst at Manchester City. External options are also being explored, though Paris St-Germain's Luis Campos, considered a strong candidate, is unlikely to view his immediate future away from the European champions.

The new sporting director will inherit several immediate contract situations. Goalkeeper Alisson's deal expires at the end of this season, and while Juventus were interested this summer, Liverpool had no intention of letting him leave. The 18-year-old Lucca Brughmans will arrive next summer from Genk in a deal worth up to £30m but is not seen as an immediate first choice.

Captain Virgil van Dijk is out of contract next summer, following the departures of Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson at the end of last season. The new director may view Van Dijk as the perfect player for young defenders like Jeremy Jacquet, Giovanni Leoni, Ifeanyi Ndukwe and Mor Talla Ndiaye to learn from. Van Dijk has played every minute of the league campaign so far.

Manager Andoni Iraola believes Liverpool have 'good numbers' in midfield despite not strengthening there over the summer. Curtis Jones moved to Inter Milan, and 19-year-old Trey Nyoni was a standout on the pre-season tour of the USA. Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister are expected to shoulder the load as the fixture list intensifies, but an injury to any of them could prove a major issue.

Liverpool looked at Monaco's Lamine Camara but were not open to buying a midfielder this summer. The position could become a priority in the January window or next summer. Mac Allister's current deal expires in 2028, and there are no talks over a new contract for him at this stage.

The club's recent transfer activity included signing Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Victor Munoz and Bradley Barcola. Youngster Rio Ngumoha is expected to sign a long-term deal. Chief executive Billy Hogan recently commented on the club's health, stating, "I would send a message that we are in a very healthy place as a football club - the leadership from the ownership is in a very steady place and we're looking forward to the next season and the season ahead."

The new sporting director's first major task will be to handle the upcoming transfer windows.