Liverpool legend John Barnes has shared his thoughts on the club’s transfer plans for January amid links with Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo and uncertainty over Mohamed Salah’s future
John Barnes has urged Liverpool not to pursue Antoine Semenyo in the January transfer window, while also making bold assertions that Mohamed Salah isn’t departing anywhere. The ‘Egyptian King’ sent the sporting world into a frenzy earlier this month with a damning critique of Arne Slot following the Reds’ 3-3 stalemate with Leeds United.
This followed the fourth Premier League fixture that the forward found himself relegated to the bench for, with tensions between Salah and his manager reaching boiling point in the aftermath. Speaking to the media after the match, Salah revealed that he has “no relationship” with Slot, while also making scathing accusations that he was being “thrown under the bus” by his club.
Meanwhile, the 33-year-old suggested that last weekend’s 2-0 triumph over Brighton & Hove Albion may have been his final appearance in a Liverpool shirt, as he now departs for the Africa Cup of Nations until January. Nevertheless, club legend Barnes is convinced that he will remain at Liverpool when the transfer window reopens next month, maintaining that the discord between himself and his manager can be resolved.
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Speaking exclusively to Mirror Football via BetMGM, the 62-year-old said: “Arne Slot left him out and he came down hard on him, which is the right thing you’ve got about the manager. But it’s not a question of Arne Slot or Mo going, both of them will stay.
“And if Mo goes, it’s because Mo wants to go to Saudi Arabia. So, you know, it’s not a question of Arne Slot forcing Mo out. You know, Mo is at an age now where, of course, he won’t necessarily improve and get much better. But he’s here, he can still have a top player.
“So I don’t see it as a problem. It’s modern football. Newcastle, you had with (Alexander) Isak when, you know, Isak wanted to leave Newcastle and the fans loved him and he left. And it’s not a question of Mo staying and Arne Slot going or Arne Slot going and Mo staying.
Barnes continued: “That’s not the situation at all. Mo, our player, is going to go away to the Africa Cup of Nations. He’s got another year on his contract. I’m hoping for him to stay. Mo is not going to be here in three years’ time. I’m sure next year, if he stays, will be his last year. But it’s not about Mo, it’s about the club. So, yeah, they’ll resolve that situation.”
In recent weeks, Liverpool have been connected with pursuing Bournemouth star Semenyo – who has illuminated the Premier League this campaign with seven goals and three assists across 15 matches. Several clubs showed interest in the striker during the summer, but he ultimately penned a fresh contract with the Cherries that will keep him at the Vitality Stadium until 2030.
However, recent reports suggest that the Ghanaian’s fresh contract includes a £65million release clause, which can be triggered by any club from January, irrespective of whether Bournemouth wish to part ways with him. Liverpool, along with Manchester United, Tottenham, Manchester City and Arsenal, have all been linked with the 25-year-old.
Despite this, Barnes isn’t entirely sold on the idea of Liverpool shelling out for another forward in the forthcoming transfer window. Given their substantial summer expenditure on Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz, he doesn’t believe bolstering the attack should be the Reds’ primary focus in the upcoming recruitment drive.
“January is not a time to sign players,” Barnes maintained. “And if you look at what we have, we haven’t got a problem scoring goals and creating chances.
“We’ve got Gakpo, we’ve got Isak, we’ve got Wirtz, we still have Mo. We have Ngumoha. That is not a problem for us. So, of course, if you then feel that long-term you want him, but I don’t think January is a time to be signing players.
“So, and I don’t know from Manchester City’s point of view, he comes, he’s going to play ahead of the boys who they have there. So, of course, this is, once again, paper talk. But from that point of view, he’s a very, very good player. But from Liverpool’s perspective, the solution to the problem isn’t just signing players.
“We signed £400million pounds worth of players, didn’t we? So what, we’re going to sign some more now for £65m? And then if that doesn’t work, you’re going to sign for another one for £100m in January? No, we have a good enough squad.
“He’s a good player. The club have to decide. I think we have problems in other positions that we need to look at before Semenyo. But that’s not me not saying that he’s a good player and if he comes to Liverpool, he would be welcomed.
Barnes concluded: “But, yeah, I don’t know whether Man City are interested in him or Liverpool or anyone like that. But January, for me, is never a time to sign players.”
