Fabrizio Romano has given us the perfect update.

The transfer window is entering its final stretch, and for Richard Hughes, the weeks ahead feel defining. There is no escaping it now. This is the moment that will shape how his time at Liverpool is remembered.

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If the squad remains as it is, Hughes’ reputation will take a significant hit. He has overseen plenty of big decisions since arriving at Anfield, but none will matter if Andoni Iraola is left to begin the season with a squad that simply isn’t ready to compete.

At the moment, Victor Munoz is Liverpool’s only senior addition. There’s plenty to like about the Spaniard. He looks talented, athletic, and capable of becoming an important player in the years ahead. But asking one signing to solve Liverpool’s problems is unrealistic.

The reality is that the squad still has glaring weaknesses.

Liverpool need reinforcements in several positions, and the situation has only become more worrying because of injuries. Instead of heading into the new campaign with competition for places across the pitch, Iraola is finding himself desperately hoping players recover in time just to field a balanced starting line-up.

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The defensive situation sums up the problem perfectly.

Jeremy Jacquet arrived with plenty of promise, but Liverpool are still waiting to see him in action.

The French defender has yet to feature and, at the time of writing, has not even returned to full training ahead of the friendly against AS Monaco.

That hardly inspires confidence that he will be ready for Newcastle United on the opening weekend.

Joe Gomez’s pre-season lasted just eight minutes before another injury setback, leaving him weeks away from making a return. Giovanni Leoni is also unavailable until September, further reducing Iraola’s options at the back.

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As things stand, Virgil van Dijk is virtually guaranteed to start the opener.

The bigger question is who lines up alongside him.

Liverpool are banking on Jacquet being fit in time, but that remains far from certain.

If he cannot make it, the alternatives are alarmingly thin. Mor Talla Ndiaye is an exciting young talent, yet he is still incredibly raw and would be thrown into a huge occasion before he is truly ready.

Meanwhile, Ifeanyi Ndukwe is not currently eligible because he does not qualify for a work permit, taking another option off the table altogether.

That is not the kind of position Liverpool should find themselves in just days before a new Premier League season begins.

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Hughes still has time to change the narrative, but the margin for error is shrinking fast. If meaningful reinforcements do not arrive before the window closes, the consequences could define both Liverpool’s season and his own legacy at Anfield.

Thankfully, by the sounds of it, Hughes is working on something and it is amazing news for Liverpool fans.

Obviously, we know there are moves being made in the attack. Liverpool are looking to sign both Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye, which would be a really exciting double deal.

The two of them both have what it takes to elevate Liverpool’s attack and give Iraola exactly what he needs.

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Now though, Fabrizio Romano has confirmed Liverpool are also making a move elsewhere, and in a position where as we explained they are lacking depth.

“What I’m hearing is that Liverpool could consider a move for a centre-back in these final weeks of the transfer window, because Liverpool could add one more player in that position,” he said on his YouTube channel.

“It’s not something that we have to exclude. More than right-back in this specific moment, I would keep an eye on the centre-back position.”

This is exactly what Liverpool need right now. A centre-back has to be the top priority and if Romano is saying this is something Liverpool are working on, it’s as good as gold.

Fabrizio Romano has given us the perfect update.

The transfer window is entering its final stretch, and for Richard Hughes, the weeks ahead feel defining. There is no escaping it now. This is the moment that will shape how his time at Liverpool is remembered.

Advertisement

If the squad remains as it is, Hughes’ reputation will take a significant hit. He has overseen plenty of big decisions since arriving at Anfield, but none will matter if Andoni Iraola is left to begin the season with a squad that simply isn’t ready to compete.

At the moment, Victor Munoz is Liverpool’s only senior addition. There’s plenty to like about the Spaniard. He looks talented, athletic and capable of becoming an important player in the years ahead. But asking one signing to solve Liverpool’s problems is unrealistic.

The reality is that the squad still has glaring weaknesses.

Liverpool need reinforcements in several positions, and the situation has only become more worrying because of injuries. Instead of heading into the new campaign with competition for places across the pitch, Iraola is finding himself desperately hoping players recover in time just to field a balanced starting line-up.

Advertisement

The defensive situation sums up the problem perfectly.

Jeremy Jacquet arrived with plenty of promise, but Liverpool are still waiting to see him in action.

The French defender has yet to feature and, at the time of writing, has not even returned to full training ahead of the friendly against AS Monaco.

That hardly inspires confidence that he will be ready for Newcastle United on the opening weekend.

Joe Gomez’s pre-season lasted just eight minutes before another injury setback, leaving him weeks away from making a return. Giovanni Leoni is also unavailable until September, further reducing Iraola’s options at the back.

Advertisement

As things stand, Virgil van Dijk is virtually guaranteed to start the opener.

The bigger question is who lines up alongside him.

Liverpool are banking on Jacquet being fit in time, but that remains far from certain.

If he cannot make it, the alternatives are alarmingly thin. Mor Talla Ndiaye is an exciting young talent, yet he is still incredibly raw and would be thrown into a huge occasion before he is truly ready.

Meanwhile, Ifeanyi Ndukwe is not currently eligible because he does not qualify for a work permit, taking another option off the table altogether.

That is not the kind of position Liverpool should find themselves in just days before a new Premier League season begins.

Advertisement

Hughes still has time to change the narrative, but the margin for error is shrinking fast. If meaningful reinforcements do not arrive before the window closes, the consequences could define both Liverpool’s season and his own legacy at Anfield.

Thankfully, by the sounds of it, Hughes is working on something and it is amazing news for Liverpool fans.

Obviously we know there are moves being made in the attack. Liverpool are looking to sign both Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye, which would be a really exciting double deal.

The two of them both have what it takes to elevate Liverpool’s attack and give Iraola exactly what he needs.

Advertisement

Now though, Fabrizio Romano has confirmed Liverpool are also making a move elsewhere, and in a position where as we explained they are lacking depth.

“What I’m hearing is that Liverpool could consider a move for a centre-back in these final weeks of the transfer window, because Liverpool could add one more player in that position,” he said on his YouTube channel.

“It’s not something that we have to exclude. More than right-back in this specific moment, I would keep an eye on the centre-back position.”

This is exactly what Liverpool need right now. A centre-back has to be the top priority and if Romano is saying this is something Liverpool are working on, it’s as good as gold.