Antoine Semenyo verdict split as Liverpool January transfer window risk obvious

Liverpool may have spent more than £300m revamping their forward line over the summer. But if reports are to be believed, they could yet be in the market for another attacking addition.

The Reds are one of the clubs credited with interest in in-form Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo. The 25-year-old is enjoying an electrifying season.

He is the joint-third top scorer in the Premier League after netting six goals in 11 games including two on the opening night of the season at Anfield when Liverpool scored twice late on to win 4-2. Only three players have more assists than the Ghana international’s return of three, too.

But what makes Semenyo an even more attractive proposition is his price tag.

The Athletic reported this week that he could be signed for £65m during the January transfer window due to a release clause inserted into the new Cherries contract he signed in July.

Capable of playing on both the left and right wings, Semenyo is sure to be in demand in the new year. But should the Reds, after the arrival of the £125m Alexander Isak, the £116m Florian Wirtz and the £79m Hugo Ekitike, join the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in the battle for his signature?

Our writers have their say…

Mark Jones

Can you have too much of a good thing? On the face of it Liverpool shouldn’t turn down the opportunity to sign one of the best players in the Premier League in January, but a couple of things would have to fit into place for it to be a wise move.

Firstly, surely Federico Chiesa would have to pack his bags and his excellent song and return to Italy? There would simply be no place for him in the squad any more if Antoine Semenyo was added.

And secondly you’d probably have to get Mo Salah onside over the addition, as signing Semenyo for £65m would represent the first time there’s been a big outlay on a right-sided attacker since the arrival of the Egyptian.

I think I’m somewhat torn. On the one hand this is a Liverpool squad that has struggled to bed in new players, with results suffering, and so do they really need another one added to the mix?

But on the other Semenyo is Premier League-proven and has been excellent for a couple of seasons now. There aren’t many better right-sided attacking options available to Liverpool at that price.

Maybe the ideal outcome would be to get him to wait until the summer when his release clause will reportedly drop again, although doing that would rely on him rebuffing interest from elsewhere this winter, which might be difficult given his growing profile.

So in short, if other suitors move for him in January then Liverpool should too. It’ll be fun to watch at least, won’t it?

Stephen Killen

It’s no real surprise to see Antoine Semenyo being linked with Liverpool. For a club of the Reds’ stature, they should be eyeing the best and most in-form players in Europe’s top divisions.

Last summer showed that the tide is changing for Liverpool and their financial might can now make them one of the best clubs in the world.

Semenyo is closing in on 100 Premier League matches and is still only 25, and the question looming over Anfield, especially in light of Mohamed Salah’s difficult start to the season, is who can replace the Egyptian?

Semenyo has the qualities to do just that. Arne Slot and the Liverpool backline know well enough the dangers he possesses – and the best way to avoid being hurt by his strengths again is by signing him.

This January seems like the best moment and most opportune to sign him. Liverpool have prided themselves with being shrewd buyers. And with reports suggesting Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are among those interested, the Reds can send a reminder about where they sit in the food chain, as they did with the signings of Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo.

A January move would ease pressure on Salah after AFCON but also allow a bedding in period where Semenyo can hit the ground running.

A reported £65m or a Premier League-proven forward is not to be dismissed and Liverpool should be interested in a player of his quality.

With the prospect of providing support and competition to Salah, Semenyo could thrive under the tutelage of a Liverpool icon, which would be the perfect foundation for a successful career on Merseyside.

Sam Hackett

There’s no doubt Antoine Semenyo has all the attributes to succeed at a top club, but whether he’s the answer to Liverpool’s early-season problems is a completely different debate.

Arne Slot’s lack of consistency in his line-ups this campaign has been called into question and adding a £65m forward to his already revamped attacking armoury could create more problems than solutions.

The assumption I’d make is the Ghanian would come in to rival Cody Gakpo for Liverpool’s left-wing spot for now before becoming Mohamed Salah ’s long-term replacement on the right.

However, despite mixed opinions from fans on the Dutchman’s performances this season, only Salah has played more minutes out of Liverpool’s attackers, with Slot consistently relying on the 26-year-old.

With Florian Wirtz also producing his best performance of the season against Real Madrid in that position, and Rio Ngumoha seeming like he could explode into life at any moment, I don’t think it’s controversial to say there may be better ways for Liverpool to spend that money.

During a season where Slot appears to be struggling to integrate new signings to a team in transition, adding another attacking player without a pre-season to settle seems like it could be counterproductive.

Despite that, if the Reds see Semenyo as a player they want long-term, the threat of added competition may be enough to make the early move worth it to set up for the future.

Antoine Semenyo verdict split as Liverpool January transfer window risk obvious

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