Richard Hughes already gave the game away before Liverpool made Florian Wirtz transfer decision

Richard Hughes is set to be a busy man this summer – in fact, he already is.

Liverpool’s sporting director looks as though he’s wasting no time in strengthening Arne Slot’s squad following this season’s Premier League title triumph. Jeremie Frimpong is well on the way to securing a move to Anfield, and Milos Kerkez may not be too far behind him.

And the Reds don’t look to be stopping there by any stretch of the imagination. What’s more, Hughes might well have something big up his sleeve – something that could leave Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Manchester City looking on in envy.

Florian Wirtz is the name on so many fans’ lips at the moment. Liverpool’s interest in the 22-year-old is already known, and there is every chance he could be part of the mass exodus occurring at Bayer Leverusen this summer.

Although Liverpool.com understands reports claiming Wirtz flew to England last week in order to speak to the Reds’ officials were wide of the mark, links with the German international have continued to grow.

Now, the latest indication from Germany is that Liverpool is pushing ahead with its interest, with Michael Edwards even claimed to have flown to Boston in order to approve funds with FSG for a potential transfer.

There is of course still a long, long way to go before Liverpool fans can begin thinking about Wirtz donning the famous red shirt, although the path has been somewhat cleared in recent days by City pulling out of the race.

Bayern Munich will still provide some stern competition, while Real Madrid may yet have a say, although Hughes may well have spotted an opening.

“With the window open, we’ll always be opportunistic if we can,” the Reds’ sporting director said last year.

It would of course prove to be a quiet first window for him as Federico Chiesa and Giorgi Mamardashvili the only deals secured, while Martin Zubimendi slipped through his grasp.

Already though, this summer looks set to be different, with Liverpool’s new status as Premier League champion perhaps helping. And that’s not the only advantage the Reds may have this summer.

“When there are major competitions during the summer — a European Championship, Copa America and the Olympics as well — there’s a lot of football being played, naturally the attention is going to be there,” Hughes added upon his unveiling last year.

There are no major international tournaments this summer, but there is the revamped Club World Cup, which could well work in Liverpool’s favor.

Both Real and Bayern are involved, which may well impact their ability to get a deal over the line for Wirtz. Liverpool though has no such involvement, potentially giving Hughes a free run to pursue a deal with Leverkusen.

It will take a lot of effort, with a price tag of around $170 million being spoken about – and when City isn’t prepared to splash the cash, you know it must be a hefty amount.

But if Wirtz is seen as key to Slot’s plans for next season’s title defense, then the opportunity may well be there for Hughes to get the deal done – and make quite the impact after last summer’s quiet introduction.

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