1 hour ago
2
Liverpool expensively assembled a new-look attack in the summer, but that hasn't prevented transfer links to Antoine Semenyo.
The undisputed star of this season's Bournemouth side, he is attracting interest from numerous big clubs. The Cherries have routinely been raided for talent in the past couple of years, not least by Liverpool. Milos Kerkez arrived this summer, and sporting director Richard Hughes also came from the Vitality Stadium the year prior.
Hughes brought Semenyo to Bournemouth in the first place. A recent rumor suggested Semenyo has handed in a transfer request following his blistering start to the season, leaving many Liverpool fans to wonder whether the forward is heading to Anfield.
Yet Lewis Steele of the Daily Mail says that he has made inquiries and been told that any suggestions of a transfer request are not true.
However, Steele added an interesting detail. He clarified that Liverpool is "certainly keen" to sign Semenyo next summer, even if a January move looks unlikely.
Bournemouth, for its part, will hold out for $99 million (£75 million), or more if Semenyo's excellent form continues. But Liverpool apparently retains its interest.
This is the clearest confirmation yet of the Reds' stance on Semenyo.
What felt like idle transfer gossip straight after Liverpool had swelled the attacking ranks with the likes of Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike, and Florian Wirtz now looks to be a genuine story, albeit a potential slow-burner.
After all, none of those new additions are right-wingers. Nor are they even natural left-wingers.
With the departure of Luis Diaz, Arne Slot finds himself relying solely on Cody Gakpo on the left flank. Wirtz has shown flashes of promise there, but that doesn't appear to be where the manager envisages him long term.
And perhaps more crucially, on the other side, Mohamed Salah is under genuine scrutiny for the first time in over a year. We've been here before, admittedly, but fears of decline mean that questions of succession will need to be legitimately considered.
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Could Semenyo be the man for the job? As a right-footer, he would be a departure from the long-established norm at Anfield if he were to play on the right.
But whether it's from the left or the right, he certainly has something about him. There are shades of prime Sadio Mane in the way he plays.
And even with such a large outlay to date, Liverpool's attack feels like it is missing at least one more piece before the next-generation front line really starts to take shape.
Semenyo would tick a lot of boxes — and transfer request or not, Hughes certainly seems to be watching closely.
English (US) ·