Liverpool in ‘direct contact’ over move to sign £100m forward – Report | OneFootball

Liverpool eye Semenyo as Richard Hughes takes proactive steps in summer rebuild

Liverpool’s sporting director, Richard Hughes, is already laying the groundwork for the club’s next major transfer move, with Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo emerging as a prime target ahead of the summer window. Reports suggest direct contact has been made between Liverpool and the south-coast club, underlining Hughes’s intent to move early in what could be a defining period for Arne Slot’s side.

Hughes’s long-term recruitment plan taking shape

Since stepping into his role, Hughes has taken a measured approach to squad development. His first year was largely about stabilising the team, ensuring key players remained while identifying areas that required reinforcement. The past summer marked a shift in tone — a proactive recruitment phase designed to strengthen Liverpool’s depth and establish a foundation for long-term success.

Sources close to the club indicate that the focus remains firmly on adding more dynamism and competition on the flanks. Liverpool explored several wide options during previous windows — including Anthony Gordon, Yankuba Minteh, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia — but ultimately held back as valuations proved excessive or timing unfavourable.

Semenyo fits Slot’s system and Liverpool’s vision

Antoine Semenyo’s emergence as a Liverpool target comes as no surprise. The Ghanaian international has been one of Bournemouth’s standout performers since their promotion push and is now considered among the Premier League’s most effective transitional forwards. His blend of direct running, pressing energy and end product makes him an ideal fit for Slot’s high-tempo, possession-based system.

A move for Semenyo also aligns with Hughes’s recruitment strategy — targeting Premier League-proven players who can adapt immediately to Liverpool’s demands. With Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo and Rio Ngumoha currently forming the club’s limited wing options, the need for another consistent threat in wide areas is clear.

According to reports, Semenyo’s contract contains a release clause that could fall from around £100 million in January to £70 million next summer — a figure Liverpool’s hierarchy would consider more reasonable, particularly given Hughes’s preference for calculated investment rather than panic buys.

Early groundwork signals Liverpool’s intent

This is not the first time Hughes has sought to move early in the market. Last year, Liverpool initiated discussions with several transfer targets months before official bids were lodged — a strategy designed to give them an advantage over European rivals. The early outreach to Bournemouth suggests a similar pattern, as the Reds look to secure priority targets well ahead of schedule.

While a January transfer seems unlikely unless another club forces Liverpool’s hand, the groundwork being laid now indicates that Semenyo could become one of the club’s main summer pursuits. His performances for Bournemouth have drawn attention from across Europe, but Liverpool’s sporting structure and competitive project under Slot may prove decisive.

Building a Liverpool side for sustained success

For Hughes, this next window represents an opportunity to continue shaping a squad capable of competing on multiple fronts. The introduction of players like Semenyo — athletic, disciplined, and Premier League-ready — fits the mould of a Liverpool team being rebuilt with precision rather than haste.

It’s still early days in negotiations, but the signs are encouraging. Liverpool’s decision-makers are not merely reacting to the market — they are attempting to control it. If Hughes can secure Semenyo for £70 million next summer, it would mark another step in establishing Liverpool’s new era under Slot, blending strategic recruitment with forward-thinking football.