Image Credits: Imago Images
The Premier League title race is shifting again, and this time it is happening off the pitch.
Clubs are starting to look ahead to January, and the competition is becoming intense.
Some teams want reinforcements because of form.
Others want to fix issues around injuries or lack of depth.
And a few teams are trying to close the gap on the leaders before the season gets away from them.
For Liverpool fans, this matters.
DaveOCKOP exclusively reported that Liverpool already held preliminary talks with Bournemouth regarding a potential move for the 25-year-old.
The club has spent heavily already, and there has been no plan to enter the winter window.
But rivals are preparing to move.
That affects the battle at the top, the fight for Champions League places, and the smaller margins that often define a season.
This is why the latest development is important.
It involves a player having one of the strongest campaigns in the league.
It involves a club that Liverpool compete with every season.
And it involves a move that could give them a boost right when the pressure begins to rise.
The noise has been building for weeks.
Now The Times has confirmed what has been happening behind the scenes.
The Times reports that Manchester City are exploring a January move for Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo, with the £65 million release clause set to become active when the window opens.
City have not fully committed yet, but the paper says they believe the deal could give them the extra push needed to close the gap on Arsenal.
Semenyo has six goals and three assists in 12 Premier League games, and his versatility has caught Pep Guardiola’s attention.
He can play on both wings and has even featured up front for Bournemouth.
Last season, he scored in their 2-1 win over City, which the club has not forgotten.
The move is also driven by City’s wider problems. Pep is worried about the team’s reliance on Erling Haaland.
Phil Foden admitted after the weekend win that “it can’t just come from him every game.”
He also said, “when he’s fully marked out of the game other players have to step up.”
Foden later warned City about their form, saying, “We can’t afford to play like this because we’re going to lose the league.”
Liverpool will watch this closely.
A fresh City winger in top form changes the dynamics of the race again, and it may force decisions elsewhere.
Want to get the latest Liverpool news direct to your phone? Join our WhatsApp community by clicking here.