The Saudi Pro League are targeting both Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes from Liverpool this summer, in what could deepen a summer of upheaval at Anfield.

The Independent understands that there are nevertheless no current plans to move on Arne Slot, with the hierarchy believing there are numerous mitigating factors for a disappointing campaign.

The team’s inconsistent form and questions over lopsided recruitment have created noise over the football leadership as much as the coach, with numerous sources believing there will be change regardless of what happens.

Hughes arrived as Liverpool’s sporting director following the departure of Jurgen Klopp in 2024, with former sporting director Edwards, who previously left Anfield in 2022, returning as the club’s chief executive of football.

The latter’s position is nevertheless complicated because he was brought in to create a multi-club strategy for Fenway Sports Group owners, only for Liverpool’s owners to ultimately decide against such a move earlier this month.

The Independent has been told that Edwards looked at over 30 clubs across multiple European leagues, including French club Bordeaux and Spanish sides Malaga and Getafe, but the hierarchy felt most were considerably overvalued.

The fact that Liverpool have ultimately moved away from such an approach has brought questions over whether Edwards himself would want a different challenge, and the Saudi Pro League are willing to offer him an opportunity.

The 46-year-old has a reputation as one of the most esteemed recruitment gurus in the game, and he is viewed as potentially working in a wider overseeing role for the competition, or perhaps an individual club. Hughes is meanwhile known to be seen as an ideal candidate for Al Hilal’s recruitment roles.

Such a development could yet influence the next step in the headline story for Liverpool’s summer, which is Mohamed Salah’s pending departure. The Saudi Pro League have been desperate for him to come for three years, although the Egyptian has been resistant due to his will to keep playing at Champions League level.

Al Hilal have been broached as a potential destination, but it is understood that Inter Miami are willing to offer Salah a proposal that would eventually see him come to the club. The MLS side currently have no Designated Player places, which would require a reshuffle.

Salah’s diminished performance level has been one of many factors in Liverpool’s considerable drop-off this season, and a recent run of two defeats and a draw in their last three Premier League games has provoked more debate about Slot’s future.

That debate has not been raised among the hierarchy, though. Numerous sources are adamant that Liverpool are not considering a change, primarily due to the belief that there are multiple mitigating reasons for the drop-off. Injuries are viewed as particularly influential, to go with the unknown effect of Diogo Jota’s passing.

Former goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher pointed to the importance of not overlooking the latter in an interview with The Independent last month.

“I find it a bit strange and a bit difficult when I hear people speaking about the players at Liverpool and the performances, because I don’t think this season is even important from a football aspect for them to be honest. It’s more about them personally and mentally.

“Obviously, football is a massive sport and people have an opinion, which is natural. People expect you to move on quite quickly, and I don’t think that’s the case.”