Fikayo Tomori Joins Liverpool's Defensive Overhaul
Richard Hughes is heading for the Anfield exit at the end of the summer window, and his next stop is Al-Hilal. Two years, one record-breaking window, a handful of inspired moves and a few that never caught fire – that will be his Liverpool legacy unless something dramatic happens in the coming weeks.
There is still time for a parting shot. And the market has just handed him one.
Tomori hits the AC Milan exit list
Liverpool’s season just gone was undone at the back. Too many injuries, too many off-days, too many games where a patched-up defence finally gave way. They scraped into the Champions League, but the sense of a wasted opportunity hung over the run-in.
Arne Slot paid with his job. His dismissal opened the door for Andoni Iraola, whose appointment has been framed as a return to some of the core principles that worked so well under Jurgen Klopp: intensity, front-foot football, and a squad built with clear, defined roles.
Crucially, Iraola has persuaded the club to act on obvious weaknesses. Ronald Araujo has arrived to stiffen the back line, a statement that Liverpool are not prepared to relive last season’s defensive chaos.
Now another long-standing target has moved into view.
Fabrizio Romano reported that Fikayo Tomori has been placed on AC Milan’s exit list and is officially available. “Fikayo Tomori has been included into AC Milan exit list today; he's available on the market,” he wrote, adding that the decision followed talks between head coach Ruben Amorim and chairman Gerry Cardinale.
For Liverpool, the timing could hardly be more pointed.
A ready-made solution for Iraola’s back line
Tomori is 28 and battle-tested in Serie A, where he has spent the last few years anchoring Milan’s defence. The Italian club may be ready to move him on, but that does not erase the qualities that first put him on Liverpool’s radar.
He is quick, aggressive, and comfortable defending large spaces – exactly the traits Iraola’s system demands. Alongside Araujo, he would give Liverpool another defender who has lived under the pressure of a major club and expects to play at the sharp end of competitions.
One more crucial detail tilts the equation: Tomori counts as homegrown. In a squad constantly juggling registration rules and depth, that status is gold. It allows Liverpool to strengthen the heart of their defence without complicating their squad lists, a rare blend of practicality and quality.
His injury record only strengthens the case. Tomori has generally been available, something Liverpool desperately lacked in central defence last season as combinations changed week after week.
Of course, homegrown status guarantees competition. Several English clubs are likely to circle, aware that signing a defender of his profile ticks both football and regulatory boxes. But Liverpool, with Champions League football, a refreshed project under Iraola and a clear need at centre-back, are well placed to make the strongest pitch.
For Hughes, it is obvious. Secure Tomori now and he doesn’t just tidy up a problem area – he leaves behind a defensive unit that looks set for years, and a final deal that would echo long after he boards his flight to Saudi Arabia.
Is there a better way to sign off than by fixing the one flaw that cost Liverpool most?
