Liverpool were regularly linked with Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo heading into the summer transfer window, with it now claimed “important figures” wanted him.
Semenyo has continued his outstanding form on Bournemouth‘s flanks so far this season, with six goals and three assists in eight appearances.
That includes a brace in the 4-2 defeat to Liverpool which kicked off the Premier League campaign – a night marred by one home supporter’s racist abuse of the Ghana international.
His performances in these early months of the season may lead those at Anfield to wonder what could have been, given claims of their interest.
According to the Telegraph‘s Sam Dean, there were “important figures” at Liverpool who saw Semenyo as the “ideal signing” in the summer.
If true, the decision was clearly made to prioritise the centre-forward position with a combined £204 million spend on Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike.
Sources told This Is Anfield that a replacement was not sought for Luis Diaz on the left wing due to the club’s faith in Rio Ngumoha.
Meanwhile Arne Slot considers Jeremie Frimpong and Federico Chiesa as cover for guaranteed starter Mohamed Salah on the right.
But two months into the season there is a sense that Semenyo would have been the perfect addition, particularly given his versatility: so far this term he has four goals and an assist as a right winger and two goals, two assists from the left.
Bournemouth hold all the cards with Semenyo
It was however maintained that Bournemouth would not sell all of their major assets in one window, with Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez and Ilya Zabarnyi all departing along with attacker Dango Ouattara.
Semenyo instead signed a new five-year contract on July 1, tying him to Dean Court until 2030 but likely on the understanding that he could be allowed to leave in the future for the right fee.
Whether Liverpool would revisit their interest remains to be seen, but if the 25-year-old does move it would almost certainly be for a club-record fee as far as Bournemouth are concerned.
With Salah turning 34 next summer – by which point he will have a year left on his current deal – and doubts over the long-term future of Chiesa, a new winger may soon become a priority.
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