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When Richard Hughes was confirmed as Liverpool’s new sporting director earlier this month, his appointment soon set tongues wagging.

I was expecting big insights about how many scouts Liverpool have, how they watch them, how they see different things, but he told me the biggest thing was getting the players they wanted because of the relationships with agents – it’s all about having good relationships with the agents.”

Yet with Alonso deciding to remain with Bayer Leverkusen, spurning advances from former clubs Liverpool and Bayern Munich in the process, on this occasion Hughes has been left unable to put his own good relationships with agents to good use.

However, could the same thinking help point the finger in the direction of who the Reds intend to turn to next?

Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim is one of the leading candidates in the running, with Liverpool’s contacts in Portugal well-documented in recent years.

Ward has also been linked with a sporting director's role at the Dutch giants.

Of course, Hughes has his own interest in Italy, having grown up in the country and started his playing career in the academy at Atalanta.

His love of Serie A football led to many discussions with Edwards regarding Alisson Becker and Mohamed Salah long before their moves to Merseyside with Liverpool’s new sporting director inadvertently playing a small role in their transfers as a result.

Meanwhile, Hughes is said to be a big fan of De Zerbi and even tried to appoint him as Bournemouth manager in August 2022 following the sacking of Scott Parker.

If not for an ownership change, Hughes would have got his man, having been left suitably impressed by what he had seen during the 44-year-old’s time with Sassuolo.

Bournemouth’s loss would be Brighton’s gain.

And after Hughes failed to land the Italian before, it would be no surprise if he put his contacts book to good use once again.

De Zerbi will of course audition at Anfield on Sunday when Liverpool host Brighton, with speculation regarding Klopp’s successor ramping up following Alonso’s rejection.

And while Hughes doesn’t officially start his new role until June 1, there is plenty left to ponder for the Reds’ sporting director after being tasked with identifying and appointing the next Liverpool manager.