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An Arsenal legend reckons Antoine Semenyo might attract more admirers than just Liverpool.
The roster of Premier League players who have registered more combined goals and assists this campaign than the coveted Bournemouth winger starts and finishes with Erling Haaland. With January's transfer window looming large and Liverpool's performances requiring improvement, speculation has emerged that the title holder is keen to recruit the forward to bolster its forward options.
However, Alan Smith believes his ex-club Arsenal, who currently top the Premier League table, ought to challenge its championship rivals for Semenyo's services. "It's take your pick for who will be after him," remarked the Sky Sports analyst, who secured the 1989 and 1991 First Division titles with the Gunners.
"I think all the top clubs would be involved here and abroad because he's such a fine player.
"He's strong, he's quick, he's so skilful, he's consistent as well, he's adaptable, and can play on both sides. So, you could put him anywhere.
"Liverpool, with Mo Salah showing signs of slowing down, he'd be a sensation on the right-hand side for them, but he can play on the left. Man City will be having a look. They all would.
"Maybe Arsenal, well, with (Bukayo) Saka and (Noni) Madueke, would they go for Semenyo? But as I say, he could play on the left.
"That £65 million ($85.5 million) release clause - it's going to be a snip for somebody like him these days. So it'd be a real scrap, I think, to get hold of his services."
Despite a promising start to the season in terms of points, if not necessarily performances, the Reds have recently hit a rough patch, securing only one victory in their last six Premier League matches.
This leaves them in eighth place in the league, eight points adrift of Arsenal at the top, and on par with Semenyo's Bournemouth.
However, despite this slump, Smith is confident that Arne Slot's players will return to form this weekend when they welcome 19th-placed Nottingham Forest, now under the management of former Everton boss Sean Dyche, to Anfield.
"Sean Dyche has done very well in the last two games," the double First Division Golden Boot winner penned in his BestBettingSites.co.uk column.
"He seems to have rejuvenated Morgan Gibbs-White, who's been on the score sheet. I still see it as a tough one, though, for Forest.
"Liverpool have lost five of the last six, but at home here, after the international break, I've got them down as 2-1 winners."
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