On Wednesday, it was confirmed that Richard Hughes will become Liverpool’s new sporting director.
Movement between Bournemouth and Liverpool is a path that seems to be well-trodden by players – with Dominic Solanke, Brad Smith and Jordan Ibe all having made switches between the two clubs.
This makes it somewhat unsurprising that the Scot would follow suit off the pitch after his work on the Dorset Coast.
His first job at the club will not be an easy one. Finding a replacement for Jurgen Klopp – a man that has won four domestic cups, a Premier League and a Champions League in his time at the club – is easier said than done.
However, the man that brought Andoni Iraola to Dean Court has a track record to suggest that he is the right man to take on the challenge. Here, Mail Sport takes a look at Richard Hughes’ five best moves in the transfer market.
During his time at Bournemouth, Hughes made a number of impressive transfer dealings
5 Mings
A 22-year-old with clubs such as Ipswich and Chippenham on his resume, it wasn’t obvious the player that Mings was going to become when he signed for Bournemouth for £8million.
17 Premier League appearances across three-and-a-half seasons did little to alter that notion.
But a loan spell at Aston Villa was followed with a £20 million transfer fee, and eventually an England call-up for Mings.
Hughes’ eye for emerging talent alongside his financial acumen both proved key to the £12 million profit that the Cherries received through this business.
4. Callum Wilson
After a 21-goal season in League One for Coventry City, Wilson was brought into the club for £3m.
Wilson was an unproven talent at the time with just a single Championship cameo appearance to his name.
Despite a strong showing for Coventry in the 2013/14 season, Wilson had only played one full season of professional-level football, having spent his previous seasons turning out for the likes of Kettering Town and Tamworth.
Six years later and he had 67 goals for the club in all competitions and become Bournemouth’s first ever player to be called up by England while at the club.
Wilson moved to Newcastle upon Bournemouth’s relegation, as the Cherries received £20m in return – a fee over six times the money they had spent bringing him in.
The Cherries made a £12million profit on defender Tyrone Mings – who is now at Aston Villa
3. Aaron Ramsdale
In 2017 Ramsdale joined Bournemouth from Sheffield United for £800,000.
He then completed loans to Chesterfield and Wimbledon – alongside 37 appearances for the club – before he was sent back the other way.
Bournemouth pocketed £18.5m, after only one season as the club’s first choice, as they had made £17.7m of profit for the now-Arsenal keeper.
2. Dominic Solanke
A £19m transfer fee, followed by 42 Premier League appearances and three goals is not the sign of astute transfer business.
But when his move was questioned, Hughes simply responded: ‘Look at the product after a year and a half rather than a week and a half down the line’.
Now its clear that both Hughes and Solanke have been vindicated.
29 goals in 2021-22 fired Bournemouth back to the top-flight, while only Ollie Watkins and Erling Haaland have scored Premier goals than him this season.
1. Nathan Ake
Ake swapped London for the South Coast in 2017 for £20m.
After three seasons at the club, he left in 2020 upon their relegation. His £41m sale to Manchester City is the club’s record sale and it is clear that Ake has justified the fee since leaving.
A treble, a clean sheet in a Champions League final and on the hunt for a fourth consecutive league title has showcased Ake’s ability.
Not to mention the £21m profit that Hughes pocketed for the club upon his sale.