Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
Visit Shots! now
Stories suggest that Liverpool could be planning a summer swap deal - but does the transfer make sense for both sides?
We may be seeing Liverpool taking the first steps to prepare for what is likely to be a frantic summer transfer window – new reports, including one from The Daily Mirror, suggest that they are inching towards a bid for Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, and may even offer young winger Ben Doak in part-exchange.
This isn’t a new rumour, but rather one that’s coming round again after emerging in January. When stories persist, it always suggests that there may be some truth to them, especially in an age when profit and sustainability considerations mean that swap deals are coming back into vogue, and we’re reaching a point where there’s enough smoke to suggest a genuine fire. So if the deal does go ahead, who benefits, and how would it work out for both parties?
Why signing Antoine Semenyo makes sense for Liverpool
It’s relatively unlikely that Liverpool view the Ghanaian winger as a straight replacement for Mohamed Salah should their star forward leave this summer, and indeed Salah’s situation may be entirely unconnected to the desire to sign Semenyo – the Bournemouth man’s ability to play on both flanks with equal impact makes him an ideal addition to a squad that lacks depth up front.
That lack of depth may be compounded by further departures this summer with the futures of Luis Díaz, Darwin Núñez and Federico Chiesa all up in the air. A versatile forward who can fit in multiple positions could solve several issues at once, and while Semenyo certainly isn’t on the same level as Salah as a player (who is?), he offers plenty of the qualities that Arne Slot seems to prize in his front three.
He’s a strong dribbler who beats his man more often than not, has the pace and movement to work space in the final third, and scores at a healthy rate, even if he is undershooting his expected goals so far this season – the first time he’s done so in four years, although he has also nearly doubled his total xG from last season already. In other words, he’s getting more dangerous around the opposing penalty area as he enters what may be his prime years.
Equally important, however, is the work that Semenyo does off the ball. The 25-year-old is among the Premier League’s most effective pressing forwards and his average of 4.5 recoveries of possession per game outstrips several players who play in more defensive roles. Most defensive midfielders would be content with making as many tackles or taking the ball away as often as Semenyo does.
So while Semenyo’s output of 11 combined goals and assists this campaign may pale in comparison to Salah’s work, he still offers a lot of qualities that Slot needs to make his system work and would offer a strong rotational option in the front three as they look to defend their presumed status as Premier League champions. The question is whether signing Semenyo would be worth losing Doak…
Why Ben Doak might be a gamble for Bournemouth
The other side of this supposed deal is Bournemouth’s. They’d be getting some cash for a key attacking player, but perhaps also young Scotland international Doak, who has spent this season on loan with Middlesbrough and has impressed in both the second tier and with his country.
A memorable performance against Croatia, when he gave Joško Gvardiol conniptions during a 1-0 Nations League win at Hampden Park, underlined Doak’s potential. Lightning fast with plenty of tricks and a knack for creating chances, the 19-year-old is viewed as one of the brightest prospects that Scotland has produced in some years.
There are issues, however, chiefly concerning Doak’s injury record. He missed most of the 2023/24 campaign with a serious knee injury and now, having started brightly with Boro in the Championship, is in the midst of another lengthy lay-off after undergoing surgery for a thigh injury.
That’s quite a lot of wear and tear on a young body, and it’s hard not to be minded of players like Ansu Fati who have struggled to hit their projected heights after enduring a torrid time with fitness issues during their early development – and it would make signing Doak a risk, especially with Liverpool’s valuation supposedly set at around £25m, based on negotiations with Crystal Palace that took place last summer.
There’s also a valid question as to whether Doak would quite suit Andoni Iraola’s scheme, assuming the in-demand Spaniard is still coaching down at Dean Court come the start of the next season.
Doak is the kind of winger who likes to hit the byline and stay wide rather than a forward like Semenyo who tries to get inside the box and into dangerous areas. Doak is undoubtedly very dangerous down the flanks – he has created more shooting chances and goals per game than Semenyo for Middlesbrough this season, admittedly at a lower level – but he isn’t the kind of goalscoring forward who’s a major threat inside the penalty area, or a player comfortable looking for quick one-twos in tight areas.
Doak also doesn’t beat his man one-on-one as reliably as Semenyo – not that he doesn’t try often enough. Doak has averaged five take-ons per game in the second tier, winning 35.4% of the time, which is nearly 20% less often than Semenyo.
Clearly, you can’t expect a teenager to have as developed and well-rounded a game as a 25-year-old, but Doak has fewer strings to his bow as a player as it stands and his playing style might necessitate tactical tweaks from Bournemouth to accommodate him. For the right strategy, Doak looks like a fabulous prospect, but that may not be the Cherries.
Presumably, Bournemouth have a plan. Their interest seems to be genuine and there were suggestions that they were tracking the young Scotsman last summer, at around the same time that Palace were having bids rejected. He’s got the talent to be worth a gamble – but it’s a question of how likely he is to shrug off all those injury issues and live up to his valuation, and whether he would be right for a team who have found a highly effective playing style. Given that the rumour is coming round again, however, we may well find out soon enough…
Related topics:Arne SlotMohamed Salah
Comment Guidelines
National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.