Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes explained the club's transfer strategy after spending just shy of £450 million ($608m) in a summer window that included record signings Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz.

Hughes spoke alongside CEO Billy Hogan at the IMG x RedBird Summit on Thursday, addressing Liverpool's highest gross spend in Premier League history. The club signed six players while offsetting costs with sales totaling more than £200 million.

Liverpool broke their transfer record twice, first on Wirtz (£100 million) and then on Isak (£125 million). The spree also included Hugo Ekitike (£69 million), Milos Kerkez (£40 million), Jeremie Frimpong (£29.5 million), and Giovanni Leoni (£26 million).

Hughes emphasized prioritizing player identification over transfer costs when building the squad. He compared current spending to historical deals like Virgil van Dijk (£75 million in January 2018) and Alisson Becker (£66.8 million in July 2018).

"As best you can, you have to detach yourself from what the transfer fee is likely to be," Hughes said. "First and foremost, the identification of the right player for the right system for the right head coach has a fair amount of importance."

The sporting director views Isak and Wirtz as long-term investments rather than players for potential profit. Both signings represent players who can contribute immediately while remaining at the club for years.

Hughes discussed benefits of multi-club ownership for player development, drawing from his Bournemouth experience. Fenway Sports Group has conducted due diligence on European clubs including Getafe, Malaga, and Bordeaux.

"Attracting talent at a younger age and at a cheaper stage in their development, and then being able to develop them in your own environment is clearly something that's desirable," Hughes explained.

He cited Dango Ouattara's successful move from Lorient to Bournemouth as an example of effective multi-club operations.