Liverpool will return to Premier League action this weekend when they host Nottingham Forest at Anfield on Saturday afternoon.
The international break has given Arne Slot a respite from the mounting pressure on himself and his squad following a poor start to their campaign, which was only worsened by their most recent defeat to Manchester City.
The Premier League champions are currently eighth in the top-flight table after tallying up six wins and five defeats over the opening 11 fixtures, so there will be expectations to turn things around when they return this week.
Most Read on The Transfer Tavern
Long-term, there are concerns over the future of the team even after a hefty spend in the summer transfer window, with multiple roles needing additional depth.
Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk are well into the latter stages of their careers, and despite both signing contract extensions in the summer, there will need to be a plan in place to replace their undisputed and unrivalled impact on the team.
Salah, in particular, has been the catalyst in Liverpool’s success when it comes to attacking contributions, and finding his successor will feel like an impossible task.
However, reports have continued to speculate that AFC Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo could be the man for the job, and new developments have emerged this week.
Taking to X yesterday, The Athletic’s David Ornstein dropped a bombshell about a release clause in the forward’s contract:
“Bournemouth may be powerless to prevent Antoine Semenyo sale in January.”
“Contract includes £65m release clause – available to all clubs but must be triggered by set date so #AFCB get time to replace. Applies again in summer at lower price @TheAthleticFC”
Should Liverpool sign Antoine Semenyo?
Not only do Liverpool need to plan for a not-so-distant future without Salah, but in the immediate term his upcoming AFCON commitments will leave the squad without one of their most important players.
The Egyptian winger is likely to be out of action for Liverpool for at least the entire month of January, which could be an absolute nightmare if the team is still struggling to climb the table and compete in all competitions.
Indeed, Semenyo is a Ghana international; however, they shockingly failed to qualify for AFCON, so he won’t be taking part in the tournament.
This could be seen as yet another boost in Liverpool’s potential to sign the talented 25-year-old, once hailed as “unique” by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp.
Over 12 appearances for the Cherries this season, Semenyo has scored six goals and registered three assists in all competitions.
The Ghanaian winger is also currently the third-highest goal contributor in the Premier League, with the second-best shot accuracy (61%) in the league, which is better than Erling Haaland (60%) and Brentford’s Igor Thiago (60%).
There is no doubt that Semenyo is an incredible prospect for Liverpool to consider, but with Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz still finding their feet on Merseyside, January might be too soon to add another attacker into the mix.
With all considered, Liverpool must balance short-term necessity with long-term planning.
Whether they choose to make a move for Semenyo in January or bide their time, the club’s handling of this potential deal will reflect their broader vision for life after Salah.
Rebekka Arnold
Site_editor
Rebekka Arnold is an experienced writer with a strong background in digital media, PR and football journalism. Since 2021, Rebekka has written opinion pieces and match reaction content for Football Fancast, part of the Snack Media network, building on her growing presence in the football community through viral Twitter content and podcasting. Now at Transfer Tavern, Rebekka brings her sharp eye for analysis and deep passion for the game to deliver engaging football opinion and breaking transfer news content.
View All Posts
Post navigation