Liverpool eye £130m Rayan release clause as Julian Ward emerges to replace Hughes

Liverpool are tracking Bournemouth forward Rayan as a potential long-term successor to Mohamed Salah, with a £130m release clause on the 20-year-old set to become triggerable from next summer, according to The Athletic.

The Reds spent close to £200m in Andoni Iraola’s first transfer window as manager, bringing in Jeremy Jacquet, Victor Munoz and Bradley Barcola, but failed to land a direct Salah replacement after bids for Yankuba Minteh and Ismaila Sarr were rejected by Brighton and Crystal Palace respectively. That gap in the squad has reportedly sharpened Liverpool’s focus on Rayan as a priority target for 2026.

The Brazil international joined Bournemouth in January under Iraola and made an immediate impression, contributing five goals and two assists in 15 Premier League appearances. Bournemouth are not expected to entertain any approach before the release clause activates, but Liverpool are believed to be positioning themselves ahead of that window opening.

Off the pitch, the club is working to fill the sporting director role vacated by Richard Hughes, who departed Anfield last week — a year before his contract was due to expire. FSG technical director Julian Ward, who previously served as Liverpool’s sporting director in 2022 following Michael Edwards’ exit, has emerged as a leading internal candidate to succeed him.

The Athletic also names current assistant sporting director David Woodfine and director of football development Pedro Marques as possible in-house options. However, journalist David Ornstein did not rule out the club pursuing an external appointment, leaving the process open-ended as Liverpool look to stabilise their football operations structure under the new Iraola era.