Beleaguered Liverpool will have to decide whether to press the button on a £65m move for Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo in January or face competition from Manchester City, who intend to join the race in the summer.
The i Paper understands that the Reds have made enquiries about Semenyo and are aware of the existence of a clause which gives buying clubs the first week or so of the January transfer window to sign him for £65m for some time.
As revealed in October, Liverpool see Semenyo as potential competition for Mo Salah, who has endured a difficult start to what is turning into a troubling campaign at Anfield.
Part of their thinking is that moving for him in January would offset the potential loss of Salah to the Africa Cup of Nations in the New Year.
But they are not alone in their interest, with Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur also keen on the Ghana international.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 26: Mohamed Salah of Liverpool reacts after the team's defeat in the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD5 match between Liverpool FC and PSV Eindhoven at Anfield on November 26, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Mo Salah is experiencing a drop in form (Photo: Getty)
The i Paper understands that the Reds are regarded at this point as the front runners to sign Semenyo but City – who want to change the “profile” of their wingers in future transfer windows – also hold genuine interest in the 25-year-old.
It is understood that they are more likely to move for Semenyo in the summer, though, when the clause is reduced to below £60m.
That would be the preference of his club Bournemouth, who are desperate to keep him for the rest of the season.
A potential transfer tug-of-war for Semenyo will dominate the early part of the January transfer window but sources suggested this week that it is far from cut and dried that he will leave.
The i Paper can also reveal that the clause does not dictate the structure of payments around the deal, so any move would not be quite as straightforward as an interested club simply offering the £65m that triggers the transfer.
Semenyo is also understood to be happy at Bournemouth and not actively looking for a move, although concrete interest from the likes of Liverpool and City would change that.
For struggling Liverpool, planning for the next couple of transfer windows will undoubtedly be clouded by short-term concerns around their horrific form, which has seen them lose nine of their last 12 matches and drawn scrutiny over the future of Arne Slot.
Should Arne Slot be sacked as Liverpool manager?
Have your say down below 👇#LFC
— The i Paper Sport (@TheiPaperSport) November 27, 2025
Slot is safe for now, with Liverpool dismissing speculation linking them with Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann earlier in the week, but clearly the run of results cannot continue at a club that expects to be in the Champions League every season as a bare minimum.
Led by Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards, the Reds player trading in recent years has been considered to be best in class in recruitment circles and this summer’s heavy spending was about future-proofing a squad that needed to evolve.
But so far they have been unable to integrate the blue riband new signings into a system that retains the intensity that saw them crowned Premier League champions last season.
Alexander Isak is yet to score a single Premier League or Champions League goal despite a British record £125m move.
They will have to decide whether adding more attacking options – even if Semenyo is potentially a long-term successor to Salah and the clause makes it appealing – is the way to fix that. Liverpool are also actively seeking defensive reinforcements.
One source told The i Paper that Semenyo’s form between now and January may dictate whether Liverpool decide to go for him.
“Recruitment is data-driven and scientific these days but football clubs are also emotion-led in some ways,” they said.
“When Semenyo’s stats were so good at the start of the season, £65m looked a snip for the best attainable attacker.
“It may be that if there is a slight drop-off now, they change those plans and January isn’t the right time for it.”
Your next read