Liverpool is reportedly accelerating its pursuit of Antoine Semenyo, a player highly admired by new manager Arne Slot, described as a potential `world-class` addition to the squad.
The Reds secured their fourth consecutive win across all competitions on Saturday afternoon with a strenuous 2-1 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers, who currently sit at the bottom of the Premier League table. While the three points were paramount, the performance may have raised some flags for Slot.
Notably, Federico Chiesa had a challenging outing on the right wing, recording a low SofaScore match rating of just 6.1 before being replaced after the hour mark. This rare start for Chiesa saw Florian Wirtz, who recently arrived from Bayer Leverkusen, impress on the opposite flank, bagging his debut goal for the club. Slot will be eager for the German midfielder to build momentum following a slow start at Anfield.
Despite Wirtz`s solid display on the left, his preferred role remains attacking midfield, suggesting there might be an opening for a dedicated left-sided winger next month. This potential gap has led to a significant development in Liverpool’s long-standing interest in AFC Bournemouth`s Antoine Semenyo.
According to recent reports, Bournemouth now anticipates that Liverpool will intensify their efforts to sign the Ghanaian winger. Semenyo has a substantial £65 million release clause which will become active as soon as the January transfer window opens.
AFC Bournemouth`s Antoine Semenyo during a match warm-up.
This news introduces a dramatic twist to Semenyo`s transfer saga. Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, and crucially, Manchester City, have all previously shown interest in the forward. Prior to Liverpool`s sudden acceleration, a move to the Etihad Stadium was considered the most probable outcome, with City having already held advanced talks.
However, the Reds are now eager to strengthen their attacking options, especially amid continuing speculation regarding the future of star player Mohamed Salah at Anfield.
Semenyo has received high praise from his current teammates. Bournemouth`s Justin Kluivert spoke highly of the Ghanaian earlier this season:
He is just world-class. We are glad to have him and that is why I said we have a good team. He is the one that scores goals for us and we appreciate that. He’s doing an amazing job.
Kluivert’s high regard is echoed by Arne Slot, who previously hailed the 25-year-old as a `great player,` specifically commending the Bournemouth star for his blistering pace and strong mental resilience.
The 32-time Ghana international has certainly warranted a move to a top-tier club with his impressive output this campaign, scoring nine goals and providing three assists in 17 Premier League appearances.
With ongoing doubts about Salah`s commitment, acquiring another high-calibre forward is essential for Liverpool. Successfully beating a primary rival like Manchester City to Semenyo’s signature would undoubtedly be a strong declaration of intent for Slot`s tenure.
Rupert Fawcett
