Latest Liverpool transfer news as doubts remain over Mohamed Salah’s future at Anfield, prompting talk of a successor
Michael Owen said midway through last season that Antoine Semenyo should be Mohamed Salah’s replacement at Liverpool. At the time Salah’s long-term future at Anfield was in doubt, which is now the case once again.
This time 12 months ago, the situation was based upon Salah’s expiring contract, though in the present day it comes down to the shocking interview given to the Liverpool ECHO and other media outlets last weekend. Named as a substitute for the third Premier League match in-a-row, the 33-year-old questioned his relationship with head coach Arne Slot and hinted towards an impending departure.
As a result, Salah was left on Merseyside as the Reds went to Milan, where they defeated Inter in the Champions League on Tuesday night. There is no clarity yet whether the 250-goal attacker will ever feature for Liverpool again.
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Rumours of a January transfer for Salah have started to spread, which may prompt activity from the Reds themselves to secure a player as like-for-like as they can possibly find.
Owen witnessed shades of Salah when Semenyo whipped in a left-footed strike against Chelsea in January of last season. Speaking on Premier League productions, he declared the Ghanaian is the ideal candidate.
“He is a brilliant player,” ex-England international Owen said. “He scores goals – and we don’t know if Mohamed Salah will stay or leave but, if he leaves, Semenyo should be his replacement.”
Semenyo, 25, finished the 2024/25 season with 13 goals and seven assists in all competitions. So far in the current campaign he has added six strikes and three assists to his record – including two goals against Liverpool in a thrilling season opener at Anfield.
He joined the Cherries from Bristol City for £10.25m. Now reports suggest the attacker will be available for £65m this January owing to a release clause in his contract on the south coast.
Premier League rivals Manchester City, Man United and Tottenham Hotspur are amongst those linked with interest in what could become a brawl to secure the attacker’s signature.
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