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Liverpool’s pursuit of attacking reinforcements could intensify in the January window, with Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo emerging as a concrete target ahead of the winter transfer window.
The defending Premier League champions have held positive talks with the Cherries over a potential move for the in-form Ghanaian forward as DaveOCKOP exclusively revealed.
Semenyo put pen to paper on fresh terms at the Vitality Stadium in July, with the deal featuring a £60 million release clause plus a further £5 million in add-ons that can be triggered during the January window.
The clause is understood to drop to around £50 million if any move is delayed until the summer window.
Bournemouth general manager Tim Bezbatchenko has also been clear that the club will not block a player’s departure if a heavyweight side, such as Liverpool or Real Madrid, comes calling.
However, David Ornstein, speaking to NBC Sports, has suggested that Semenyo’s release clause is only active for the first 10 days of the January window or so, to give the Cherries time to find a replacement:
“Antoine Semenyo will be one of the biggest talking points of the January transfer window. Some people have suggested his release clause is £60m with add-ons. That’s not the case. It’s £65m is the clause.”
“It’s available in January but only for a set period. I would imagine with these sorts of things it’s around 10 days, and that would give Bournemouth two weeks of the window to find a replacement.”
“It becomes active again in the summer window but for a lower fee.”
“Interested clubs are said to include the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham. I think Man United’s interest is ongoing, but I don’t know of them activating anything at this time. We are not sure of the player’s preference right now.
““I understand Bournemouth are working on targets for that eventuality; if it does happen, they will be prepared.”
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has remained tight-lipped about the speculation, insisting that it’s November and too early to discuss the January transfer window.
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