While several players have flown out of the traps in the opening months of the Premier League season, few have caught the eye as much as Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo.
The Ghanaian international's six goals and three assists have made him one of the most in-form players in the league, with interest in him steadily increasing. And that has sky-rocketed over the international break, following the revelation that he has a £65m release clause in his new contract, which was only signed in July.
Chief among those interested parties circling around him are Premier League champions Liverpool, who are reportedly 'big admirers' of the 25-year-old. But, having spent so much on attacking talent in the summer, is he really what they need?
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Liverpool Don't Need Semenyo
Liverpool's Cody Gakpo celebrates with Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz.
Premier League - Chelsea v Liverpool - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - October 4, 2025 Liverpool's Cody Gakpo celebrates scoring their first goal Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs
The short answer to that question is no. It's no secret that Liverpool have struggled for form in recent weeks, but it's not been down to a lack of attacking talent in the squad.
Mohamed Salah remains the current Golden Boot winner. And Liverpool have steadily added quality players around their talisman, with Cody Gakpo lining up on the left, while both Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike represent excellent strikers who can play through the middle. All four players should, theoretically, guarantee goals, particularly in the case of Isak and Salah, who scored 52 times in the league last season combined for their respective teams.
An argument could be made that additional depth is required on the left, especially after Luis Diaz's departure to Bayern Munich in the summer. But Liverpool do have back-up options for Gakpo if needed in the form of both Federico Chiesa and talented youngster Rio Ngumoha. And when you factor in the other issues that Slot is facing right now, spending £65m on another marquee forward like Semenyo should not be the biggest priority.
Liverpool's Signings 2025 Summer Window
Player
Alexander Isak
Florian Wirtz
Hugo Ekitike
Milos Kerkez
Jeremie Frimpong
Giovanni Leoni
Freddie Woodman
Liverpool Should Target 'World-Class' Midfielder and Defender
Liverpool manager Arne Slot during their match against Real Madrid.
UEFA Champions League - Liverpool v Real Madrid - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - November 4, 2025 Liverpool manager Arne Slot REUTERS/Phil Noble
The most glaring issue for Liverpool to address is at the heart of their defence. While the Merseysiders have the sixth best expected goals total after 11 games (19.70), their expected goals against currently stands at 17.51. As a point of comparison, only Wolverhampton Wanderers, Nottingham Forest, West Ham and Burnley have given up more over the course of 11 games.
Although Virgil van Dijk hasn't been at his best, there are even more question marks over Ibrahima Konate. Labelled a 'liability' by supporters for his performance against City, there is also uncertainty around his long-term future at the club, as his contract is set to expire in the summer of 2026.
An upgrade looks to be sorely needed, and there's no better place to look than Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi. Liverpool pursued the Eagles' skipper, who's been labelled 'world-class', for much of the summer transfer window — and could have a perfect opportunity to bring him to the club in January, particularly as it's unlikely that Palace will set the same £35m price tag as they did in the summer.
marc guehi
Then there's the midfield. Everyone bar Dominik Szoboszlai has played below the high standards that they set for themselves in Slot's first season. And while nobody is rushing to write off Alexis Mac Allister or Ryan Gravenberch, adding quality depth to the ranks could be vital.
Liverpool are keen admirers of Adam Wharton, who has shot to stardom at Selhurst Park alongside his teammate Guehi. But the chances of Crystal Palace giving up both players in January is unlikely, and it would be a shock to see the Reds part with another £100m that would be needed to sign the 21-year-old.
If they are looking for alternatives, Eduardo Camavinga represents a more viable option. The French international, who has also earned the 'world-class' moniker, has reportedly come up in internal discussions, with the Merseyside hierarchy considering him as an option.
Real Madrid's Eduardo Camavinga holds off Valencia's Pepelu.
LaLiga - Real Madrid v Valencia - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - November 1, 2025 Real Madrid's Eduardo Camavinga in action with Valencia's Pepelu REUTERS/Juan Barbosa
While he's under contract until June 2029, the Real Madrid star has only started 25% of Los Blancos' La Liga games so far this year. He's firmly behind Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni in the pecking order, so the promise of a more important role in the team could very well tempt him away from the Santiago Bernabeu.
The combined cost of both Guehi and Camavinga will almost certainly be way beyond Semenyo's release clause. But both players would arguably have a more transformative effect on the team's fortunes — in that regard, it's a no-brainer for the Premier League giants.