A Liverpool legend believes Liverpool could rue missing out on a superstar who could've been Mo Salah's replacement
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - MAY 15: Arne Slot, head coach of Liverpool, looks dejected after the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Liverpool at Villa Park on May 15, 2026 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Arne Slot is facing intense pressure at Liverpool(Image: James Gill - Danehouse, Getty Images)
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Liverpool's inability to sign Antoine Semenyo could prove critical, according to former Reds star Jamie Redknapp. Arne Slot has faced mounting pressure at Anfield, and Mohamed Salah's departure from the club is anticipated to make the Dutch boss's task even tougher next season.
The Reds were linked with Semenyo for a considerable period, with the talented winger regarded by many as an ideal successor to Salah. Yet Manchester City snapped up the forward from Bournemouth in January for £64million.
He has been an enormous hit for the Blues. In merely 27 matches, the Ghana international has netted 11 goals and provided two assists as City clinched a League Cup and FA Cup double this season.
The Liverpool legend has suggested that the missed opportunity could have significant consequences. He reckons a talent like Semenyo could have strengthened the Reds next season, thereby lightening the load on Slot.
"So there's going to be a lot of changes at Liverpool and I think we have to trust in the team to get the right players in but the right wing is obviously the key one because you need to find someone that's going to fill Mohammed Salah's boots," Redknapp said.
"I think Semenyo was a big loss. I think Liverpool probably had an opportunity to get him at one point. And then City jumped in, because I think he would have been a superstar at Liverpool as well. So that was a bit of a shame."
Slot has reportedly been given the backing to lead Liverpool into next season by the club's owners, Fenway Sports Group. Redknapp believes the Premier League title-winning manager needs support in the transfer market but acknowledged the pressure on Slot will be immense from day one of the new campaign.
Antoine Semenyo of Manchester City celebrates after he scored during the FA Cup final match between Chelsea and Manchester City
Antoine Semenyo of Manchester City celebrates after he scored during the FA Cup final match between Chelsea and Manchester City(Image: Getty)
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"I think you've just got to trust the club," Redknapp added. "Arne will need a little bit of help next year, because if Liverpool don't start well, he knows the price on the ticket, the pressure will come on him very early, because of what's happened this season. And Arne knows that, but I think my feeling is he deserves a bit more respect."
Redknapp isn't blind to the problems surrounding the club under Slot and the frustration from supporters that's threatened to erupt this season. However, he emphasised that multiple factors, including the tragic death of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota, will have had a massive impact on the Reds' campaign.
"Liverpool fans are probably, in terms of a fan base, understand the game [really well]," he said. "For me, there's no one better and I totally get their frustration with the football this year that's been served up. It hasn't been good enough, been too slow, pedestrian but I would also say there's a lot of mitigating circumstances and I don't want to keep harping on to the start of the season.
"But that was very difficult for people to come into that environment. You know, you sign three or four new players and then there was obviously [the death of] Diogo Jota. And I just don't think you can underestimate how difficult that was for everybody to get to deal with because it was a teammate, somebody you loved, somebody that just won the title."
Jamie Redknapp thinks Semenyo was a big loss for Liverpool
Jamie Redknapp thinks Semenyo was a big loss for Liverpool(Image: PA)
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The ex-England midfielder has joined forces with Kellogg's, who are running football camps this summer in partnership with the EFL, Manchester City, Celtic FC and Rangers FC. He believes the camps give youngsters the chance to get outdoors and build vital life skills on the pitch.
"There are kids that are just stuck indoors doing nothing and they're just scrolling their phones," he said. "And it's just it's really just not good for your brain. It's not good for your energy. It's no good for anything. So I'm a big advocate of this. And so when I got the opportunity to do it, it just felt a really cool initiative."
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