Liverpool are eyeing a £50m successor to Salah who is the “perfect” signing
When Liverpool appointed Arne Slott last year there was a strong emphasis on the Dutchman being the head coach, not the manager.
This might seem like a technicality, but it is an indication FSG a departure from the way things are Jurgen Kloppstepping into the hierarchy of a new look and modern feel. Michael Edwards is back in a new role, overhauling Liverpool’s senior structure.
Sloto’s job may be the main focus on the team, tactics and football, but he is not fenced off from hierarchical decisions. He is often linked with sporting director Richard Hughes and will have a significant say in transfer and contract activities.
His coy answers regarding Liverpool’s protracted contractual problems, for example, carry an undercurrent of deeper understanding. Slot will advocate for restoration Trent Alexander-Arnoldor Virgil van Dijkof Mohamed Salah.
But he will also be involved in the work on the success plan. Liverpool still have to indicate contingencies.
Liverpool’s triple contract problem
The elite trio of stars may be taking all their skills elsewhere in the autumn, and while top sources such as The Athletic’s David Ornstein have previously reassured worried supporters by stressing that offers have been made and positive negotiations are underway for at least Salah and Van Dijk, now we’re getting there until February without a solution.
Trent presents a different problem. The 26-year-old is entering his prime and is one of the world’s best playmakers, but he is courted by Real Madridwho are confident that they will look for him on a free transfer at the end of the season.
The upshot of all this is that Liverpool can’t focus on a transfer offensive, because how can prudent FSG make big money moves without being sure of the outcome of such significant players?
Despite this, Hughes and co have drawn up plans, and with Salah, 32, again attracting the interest of the Saudi professional leaguereplacements on the right are marked.
Liverpool tend to take rising qualities and mold them into first class talent, rather than throwing themselves at the established elite.
Following that trend, Liverpool got pretty exciting Premier League-an established name on their radar.
Liverpool is preparing a successor to Salah
According to Caught OffsideLiverpool are interested in signing him Antoine Semenyo and they even proposed a player-plus-money deal involving Ben Doak.
The Bournemouth winger, 25, has been one of the standout stars in the Premier League this term and is also on the radar of Arsenal, who are desperate to replace the injured Bukayo Saka.
While Semenyo is valued at £50m, CaughtOffside sources have confirmed that he is open to leaving the Vitality Stadium and proving himself on the European stage.
However, wresting him from the Cherries midway through the season will be difficult, with Bournemouth seventh in the table, just three points behind Chelsea in the top four.
What Antoine Semenyo would bring to Liverpool
Semenyo plays on the right flank and has gone from strength to strength since joining Bournemouth in January 2023. is leaving Bristol City in a £10m deal.
His teammate, Lewis Cook, noted at the start of the season that the Ghana forward could reach “second level” after coming up with great efforts under Andoni Iraola last term, and you would have to agree that he is now performing at an outstanding level.
With Bournemouth pressing into the continental zone, Semenyo was arguably the main attacking talisman, stepping up after Dominic Solanke was sold to Tottenham for £65 million during the summer.
Antoine Semenyo in the Premier League |
||
---|---|---|
Match statistics* |
23/24 |
24/25 |
Matches (starts) |
33 (25) |
21 (21) |
Objectives |
8 |
6 |
Assists |
2 |
3 |
Shots (on goal)* |
2.1 (0.9) |
3.9 (1.1) |
Big chances were missed |
5 |
7 |
Completion of passage |
74% |
78% |
Great chances were created |
6 |
8 |
Dribbling (success)* |
1.5 (48%) |
2.1 (58%) |
Ball recovery* |
3.4 |
5.0 |
Tackles + interceptions* |
0.9 |
1.6 |
Total matches (won)* |
4.5 (38%) |
6.8 (44%) |
Statistics via Sofascore (* = per match) |
Semenyo played in the top flight of the English league in the second half of the 2022/23 season, but Gary O’Neil failed to activate his best quality and started only two games.
As you can see above, he has thrived under an attacking and intelligent manager in Iraola, not only increasing his output but also displaying an impressive array of fundamental qualities that will earn him plaudits in Liverpool’s analytics room.
With such an exciting skill set and growing potency in front of goal, Liverpool could indeed have the perfect successor to Salah on their hands. The Egyptian king if is, of course, irreplaceable, but the Ghana international could be a crafty new option on the right wing to ensure Slott’s front line continues to fire on all cylinders in the coming years.
Given that Salah has scored 22 goals and 17 assists in all competitions for the Reds this season, it is imperative that Liverpool get a worthy replacement in the summer, should he indeed leave.
Even if Liverpool manage to tie Salah down to a new contract, time is running out and he will enter his twilight years at some point in the not-too-distant future, although the 32-year-old is rightly regarded as a superb athlete.
Salah ranks in the top 1% of position mates in Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goals and assists per 90, according to FBrefsuperb in providing an outlet for Liverpool’s slick football.
WITH Darwin Nunez unreliable and Diogo Jota routinely unfit, it seems obvious that they will look to invest in signing a new centre-forward this summer.
Semenyo has been described as “the perfect January signing”. analyst Ben Mattinson when Arsenal’s interest in Wideman is discussed, and while the Cherries appear to have closed the door on a winter move, there’s no reason why Liverpool shouldn’t hit the jackpot if they bide their time and strike during the summer months.
Salah is, indeed, irreplaceable, but in Semeny, Liverpool would still secure a worthy successor, one who could secure the right-wing role and make it his own.