Report: Liverpool looking to hijack Man City’s move for Premier League forward | OneFootball

Liverpool move quickly as Semenyo decision point emerges

Liverpool have stepped decisively into a developing transfer tussle after Manchester City were reported to have reached an ‘agreement’ on personal terms with Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo. According to TeamTalk, the response from Anfield has been swift, with Arne Slot’s side now firmly positioned as contenders in a deal that could shape the Premier League’s January market.

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Semenyo’s form has made this escalation inevitable. The 25-year-old has six goals and three assists from 14 Premier League appearances, numbers that place him alongside elite company. Only Erling Haaland, Igor Thiago, Danny Welbeck and Jean-Philippe Mateta have scored more this season, and all are centre-forwards. That productivity from a wide role explains the breadth of interest.

Bournemouth would prefer to keep their talisman as they push for European qualification, but the contractual landscape complicates matters. A release clause, agreed when Semenyo signed a new deal in July, stands at £65million during the early part of January before dropping to £50m next summer.

City move first as Liverpool react

The report from TeamTalk, via CaughtOffside, states that City have acted first by ‘agreeing terms’ with the player. Liverpool, however, are said to have matched that progress, with Slot’s side now also having ‘agreed terms’. The consequence is a narrowing of options rather than a widening, with Semenyo ‘now set to decide’ between the two clubs.

From Liverpool’s perspective, this reflects a recruitment strategy focused on decisiveness rather than drawn out negotiation. Sources indicate that should the report prove accurate, Semenyo is more inclined towards Merseyside. It was revealed earlier in the week that he is prioritising a move to Anfield and sees himself starring in red.

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Tottenham Hotspur have made the winger their No 1 attacking target, yet reports suggest he is not keen on heading there. Manchester United remain involved, with Dean Jones reporting for TeamTalk that they are capable of meeting the £65m clause, though the sense is that they are behind Liverpool and City in proceedings.

Bournemouth plan ahead amid elite scramble

The ripple effects are already being felt on the south coast. TeamTalk’s transfer insider Fraser Fletcher revealed that Bournemouth are preparing for life without Semenyo and are targeting FC Basel winger Philip Otele as a potential replacement. That planning underlines the reality of release clauses at this level, protection in theory, vulnerability in practice.

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Semenyo is open to joining another Premier League giant, but his preference is clear. Liverpool’s pitch centres on role clarity and opportunity, a factor that may prove decisive when weighed against City’s established dominance.

Wider implications at Anfield

Any move would inevitably be framed against the backdrop of Mohamed Salah’s uncertain future. TeamTalk report that a Semenyo signing could signal the end of the Salah era, with the Egyptian still not having apologised to Slot after claiming Liverpool have ‘thrown me under the bus’. Team-mates are not expecting Salah to return for the Brighton & Hove Albion clash, and interest from Saudi Arabia remains strong.

Liverpool’s intent, however, appears broader than succession planning. This is about maintaining attacking depth and momentum at the top end of the Premier League.

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Semenyo fits the profile fans have come to expect under Slot, explosive, durable and already proven in the Premier League. Six goals and three assists from a wide role is serious output, and the idea of adding that to Liverpool’s front line feels like a statement of intent.

There is also realism among supporters regarding the Salah situation. If the relationship truly cannot be repaired after the ‘thrown me under the bus’ comments, then succession planning becomes urgent rather than theoretical. Semenyo does not replicate Salah, but he offers energy and goals without needing an extended adaptation period.

The fact Liverpool are willing to go toe to toe with City matters. Fans want to see decisiveness in the market, not hesitation that allows rivals to dictate outcomes. If Semenyo chooses Anfield over the Etihad, it reinforces the pull of Liverpool’s project under Slot.

Ultimately, supporters care less about winning transfer battles for optics and more about squad balance. Semenyo feels like a football decision first, and that is why this report has been so well received.