Image Credits: Imago Images
By now, it’s clear that Liverpool hold some form of interest in Antoine Semenyo.
Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, both of whom unsuccessfully tried to secure Antoine Semenyo over the summer, remain attentive to the 25-year-old’s situation ahead of the January transfer window.
DaveOCKOP exclusively revealed that Liverpool held preliminary talks with Bournemouth last weekend regarding a potential move for Semenyo.
The discussions are described as exploratory, with the Reds seeking to understand Bournemouth’s stance and the possible terms of a deal.
David Ornstein of The Athletic revealed on Monday evening that Semenyo’s contract extension signed in July contains a £65 million release clause—comprising £60 million plus £5 million in add-ons—that becomes active in January.
Crucially, Ornstein also disclosed that the release clause will drop further in the summer window, though the exact figure remains undisclosed.
While Bournemouth would naturally prefer to retain their prized asset for the remainder of the campaign as they chase European qualification, a compelling financial argument suggests January may actually represent their best opportunity to maximise profit from any sale.
Bristol City, who sold Semenyo to the Cherries for approximately £10 million in January 2023, negotiated a 20 per cent sell-on clause as part of that deal, according to Sky Sports’ Mark McAdam.
This means the Robins are entitled to a fifth of any profit Bournemouth generate from a future sale.
If Bournemouth accept the £65 million release clause in January, they would record a £55 million profit on their original investment, with Bristol City receiving £11 million as their 20 per cent share.
That would leave Bournemouth with £44 million net profit.
However, if the release clause drops substantially in the summer, potentially falling below the £60 million mark as some reports suggest, the profit margin shrinks accordingly, as does Bournemouth’s take-home sum after honouring the sell-on obligation.
From a purely financial perspective, accepting a January departure at the higher £65 million figure could prove more lucrative than waiting for a reduced summer fee, particularly when factoring in Bristol City’s entitlement.
Whether Bournemouth ultimately prioritise sporting ambition or financial pragmatism remains to be seen… but the numbers may well make that decision for them.
Want to get the latest Liverpool news direct to your phone? Join our WhatsApp community by clicking here.