Liverpool leapfrog Newcastle United in battle to agree Richard Hughes deal - Sources
Newcastle United are chasing Bournemouth sporting director Richard Hughes but they are behind Liverpool in the battle to hire him, sources have told Football Insider.
The Cherries confirmed on Tuesday (5 March) that Hughes will depart at the end of the season after joining as their technical director in 2016, meaning he is free to move to a new club.
Hughes, who is set to be replaced by Simon Francis, formed a close relationship with current Newcastle boss Eddie Howe during their successful spell at the Vitality Stadium.
It is believed that Hughes is also firmly on the radar of Liverpool, who are working on a deal to secure a new sporting director.
The Merseysiders are believed to be in pole position to agree a deal with Hughes with talks advancing in the last 48 hours.
Newcastle United work on Dan Ashworth replacement
Newcastle's former sporting director Dan Ashworth is currently on gardening leave after an approach from Premier League giants Man United, which has forced the club to seek a new senior recruitment chief.
Hughes is highly regarded in recruitment circles and was the architect of an incredibly successful period of transfer activity at Bournemouth.
The 44-year-old brought in in the likes of Dominic Solanke, who is currently the Premier League's joint-fourth top goalscorer for the Cherries, and Callum Wilson, who was sold to Newcastle for a reported £20million in 2020.
Newcastle are expected to be busy in the summer transfer window after making no new additions in Janaury.
Sources have told Football Insider (1 March) that the club are planning to sign a centre-back, a central midfielder and a striker this summer.
Newcastle sit eighth in the Premier League table after their 3-0 win against Wolves on Saturday (2 March).
They are next set to travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea on Monday night (11 March).
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