‘Liverpool still in the frame’ – Trusted journalist says Reds could strike for £65m star

 

 

A well-respected journalist has refused to completely rule out Liverpool launching a blockbuster January transfer move.

Although The Athletic reported last week that Antoine Semenyo favours a switch to Manchester City, Fabrizio Romano later revealed that Liverpool have not abandoned hope of landing the Bournemouth winger. With the 25-year-old increasingly expected to leave the Vitality Stadium this winter, uncertainty still surrounds where he will end up.

In his January transfer window preview for Mail Sport, Lewis Steele suggested the Reds could yet make a surprise move for the Ghana international, despite City being widely viewed as the frontrunners.

Steele explained that while much of the recent noise points towards Semenyo heading to the Etihad, Liverpool remain firmly interested and could be prepared to step in and disrupt any deal. He stressed that the situation is far from straightforward. Early in the summer, there were indications that the £65m-rated forward — a figure that would rise beyond £75m without his release clause — was on Liverpool’s radar. However, former Bournemouth executive Richard Hughes may have been reluctant to pursue multiple players from his old club after already signing Milos Kerkez.

Crucially, Steele urged observers not to dismiss the possibility of a Liverpool bid if the player and his representatives show openness to the move. He also noted that Manchester City aren’t the only club monitoring the situation, with both Manchester United and Tottenham showing interest.

The mixed messaging has left Liverpool supporters unsure of the club’s true stance, especially after Ben Jacobs claimed there were no plans for a January approach. While City still appear the most likely destination, Liverpool have a recent history of late, decisive transfer swoops — as seen with Cody Gakpo and Luis Díaz in previous winters.

For that reason, a dramatic Anfield move cannot be completely ruled out, particularly if Hughes feels there’s a realistic chance of convincing Semenyo to choose Merseyside. The winger has rediscovered his scoring touch after a brief dip, netting in each of his last three matches despite Bournemouth’s recent struggles.

Although Arne Slot is expected to publicly play down the need for January reinforcements, it wouldn’t be surprising if he’s privately pushing for additions to bolster his stretched squad. Semenyo’s future is set to remain one of the most talked-about transfer stories in the weeks ahead.