Liverpool urged to avoid Antoine Semenyo transfer amid Mohamed Salah prediction - 'Not a problem'

Liverpool legend John Barnes has warned the club against signing Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo in the January transfer window whilst insisting Mohamed Salah will stay at Anfield

Liverpool are one of a number of Premier League clubs to be linked with Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo(Image: Photo by Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)

John Barnes has warned Liverpool against signing Antoine Semenyo in the January transfer window, while also confidently asserting that Mohamed Salah isn't leaving. The 'Egyptian King' sent shockwaves through the sporting world earlier this month with a harsh critique of Arne Slot following the Reds' 3-3 draw with Leeds United.

This marked the third straight Premier League ame where the forward found himself on the bench, leading to escalating tensions between Salah and his head coach in the aftermath. In a post-match interview, Salah revealed that he has "no relationship" with Slot, and made serious allegations of being "thrown under the bus" by his club.

The 33-year-old also hinted that the recent 2-0 victory over Brighton and Hove Albion might have been his last appearance in a Liverpool jersey, as he now heads off to the Africa Cup of Nations until January. However, club legend Barnes is confident that he will remain at Anfield when the transfer window reopens next month, insisting that the rift between him and his manager can be resolved.

Speaking to Mirror Football via BetMGM, the 62-year-old stated: "Arne Slot left him out and he came down hard on him, which is the right thing you've got about the manager. But it's not a question of Arne Slot or Mo going, both of them will stay.

"And if Mo goes, it's because Mo wants to go to Saudi Arabia. So, you know, it's not a question of Arne Slot forcing Mo out. You know, Mo is at an age now where, of course, he won't necessarily improve and get much better. But he's here, he can still have a top player.

"So I don't see it as a problem. It's modern football. Newcastle, you had with [Alexander] Isak when, you know, Isak wanted to leave Newcastle and the fans loved him and he left. And it's not a question of Mo staying and Arne Slot going or Arne Slot going and Mo staying.

Mohamed Salah's future remains up in the air(Image: Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

"That's not the situation at all. Mo, our player, is going to go away to the Africa Cup of Nations. He's got another year on his contract. I'm hoping for him to stay. Mo is not going to be here in three years' time. I'm sure next year, if he stays, will be his last year. But it's not about Mo, it's about the club. So, yeah, they'll resolve that situation."

In recent months, Liverpool has been linked with a potential swoop for Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo, who has been lighting up the Premier League this season with seven goals and three assists from 15 appearances. A host of clubs showed interest in the forward during the summer, but he opted to commit his future to the Cherries by penning a new deal that ties him to the Vitality Stadium until the summer of 2030.

However, recent reports suggest the Ghanaian's new contract contains an $87 million (£65M) release clause, which any club can trigger from January onwards, irrespective of whether the Cherries wish to part ways with him. Alongside Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham, Manchester City and Arsenal have all been linked with the 25-year-old.

Barnes, though, isn't entirely persuaded that Liverpool should be spending heavily on another forward in the forthcoming window. Having invested significantly in Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz during the summer, he feels the attacking department shouldn't be the focus of the Reds' recruitment efforts next month.

"January is not a time to sign players," Barnes added. "And if you look at what we have, we haven't got a problem scoring goals and creating chances. We've got Gakpo, we've got Isak, we've got Wirtz, we still have Mo. We have [Rio] Ngumoha. That is not a problem for us.

"So, of course, if you then feel that long-term you want him, but I don't think January is a time to be signing players. So, and I don't know from Manchester City's point of view, he comes, he's going to play ahead of the boys who they have there. So, of course, this is, once again, paper talk.

Antoine Semenyo has been linked with a January move to Liverpool(Image: Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)

"But from that point of view, he's a very, very good player. But from Liverpool's perspective, the solution to the problem isn't just signing players. We signed £400million pounds worth of players, didn't we? So what, we're going to sign some more now for £65m? And then if that doesn't work, you're going to sign for another one for £100m in January? No, we have a good enough squad.

"He's a good player. The club have to decide. I think we have problems in other positions that we need to look at before Semenyo. But that's not me not saying that he's a good player and if he comes to Liverpool, he would be welcomed.

"But, yeah, I don't know whether Man City are interested in him or Liverpool or anyone like that. But January, for me, is never a time to sign players."