‘Always’: Fabrizio Romano says Richard Hughes has held long-term interest in £30m Liverpool target

Liverpool are now well into their summer of transition, led of course by the arrival of Arne Slot in the dugout.

The Dutchman has replaced Jurgen Klopp at Anfield, with the German followed out the exit door by many others, including his assistant Pep Lijnders.

But Liverpool fans will be more focused on who is now in place to usher in the next era, with Richard Hughes among the new faces.

The former Bournemouth technical director is now the sporting director at Anfield, and will be key to helping bring success to the club in the coming years.

Hughes is expected to work closely with Slot in terms of transfers, beginning with the current summer window.

Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Richard Hughes appreciates Liverpool target Riccardo Calafiori

One player that the sporting director certainly appreciates is Bologna and Italy centre-back Riccardo Calafiori.

According to Fabrizio Romano, that appreciation dates back to when Hughes was with the Cherries, where he scouted Calafiori during his time with Roma and Basel.

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The 22-year-old central defender, who just exited Euro 2024 with Italy, has a price tag of around £30million.

He came through the youth ranks at Roma, spending three seasons in the first team, although that was disrupted by a loan move to Genoa.

Calafiori then secured a permanent switch to Basel, but returned to Italy to join current club Bologna just a year later.

Can Liverpool win the race for Riccardo Calafiori?

Calafiori will perhaps be in two minds about sorting out his future at this moment in time, having just suffered Euro 2024 heartache with Italy.

He played a key role as the nation made it to the round of 16 in Germany, before being knocked out by Switzerland.

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The centre-back definitely deserves a rest after those efforts, having just played 37 times for Bologna, helping them clinch Champions League football.

At the same time, however, the new season is rapidly approaching, and Calafiori will want to be settled before the first game is played.

Liverpool are certain to be involved in a battle for his signature if they do indeed plan to make a move, although they have been given a boost in any potential deal.

Bologna will be reluctant to lose the young star, but they do prefer him moving to England as opposed to a switch to Juventus, if an exit does take place.