Davis: Liverpool expected to make January move for Premier League star | OneFootball

Liverpool Assess Semenyo as January Options Take Shape

Liverpool’s planning for the January transfer window is beginning to sharpen, and emerging interest in Antoine Semenyo has added another strand to an already complex narrative involving Mohamed Salah and the club’s short- and long-term attacking strategy. While Liverpool’s immediate focus remains results on the pitch, off-field discussions are quietly shaping what could become a defining period of the season.

Reports linking Liverpool to Bournemouth winger Semenyo have gathered momentum, with indications that exploratory talks have taken place around a potential deal structure. While nothing is imminent, the significance of the link goes beyond recruitment alone. It speaks to Liverpool’s internal thinking, their squad balance, and how Salah’s future is being managed amid ongoing uncertainty.

Dave Davis outlined the situation clearly, stating: “Liverpool have officially opened talks with Bournemouth to explore a suitable payment structure for Antoine Semenyo. During internal discussions, Mo Salah has also been made aware the club is planning to sign a winger who can play on both sides.”

That context is important. Semenyo is not being viewed simply as depth but as part of a broader conversation around Liverpool’s attacking configuration moving forward.

Data Profile Behind Liverpool’s Semenyo Interest

From a recruitment perspective, Semenyo fits several characteristics Liverpool value. He offers positional flexibility across the front line, physical strength, and a strong defensive contribution that stands out among wide attackers in the Premier League.

“There’s a lot to like about this player,” Davis explained. “The pace, the power, and how much of a team player he is for an attacking midfielder.”

Statistically, Semenyo ranks extremely highly for defensive metrics, including blocks, aerial duels and tackles. Those attributes appeal to a Liverpool side that increasingly demands intensity and work rate from its wide players. However, his attacking output invites a more nuanced assessment.

“Non-penalty xG is low, probably below the bare minimum at 0.26,” Davis said. “You’d like that higher. Shots-wise, you probably want around three a game on average.”

Despite that, Liverpool’s interest is believed to be data-driven rather than reactive. The analytics department is thought to see value in Semenyo’s underlying numbers and how his skillset translates within a high-tempo system.

“There must be something in the data that our analysts and laptop team have got,” Davis added. “They seem hard in on Semenyo. I think it would be a surprise if Liverpool weren’t in the mix for him in January.”

Salah Context Shapes Any Semenyo Decision

Any incoming wide attacker at Liverpool inevitably brings Mohamed Salah into the discussion. While Salah ultimately controls his own future, Liverpool are conscious of how recruitment choices are interpreted internally and externally.

“Mo Salah will ultimately decide his future, and of course that’s true,” Davis said. “But he’s not going to want to stick around if he’s not getting the sense that he’ll be starting week in, week out. That’s part of the reason he signed the two-year deal.”

Liverpool are not positioning Semenyo as a direct replacement. Internally, there is a clear distinction between squad evolution and forcing change.

“I don’t like going ‘Salah out, Semenyo in’. That’s unfair,” Davis stressed. “Liverpool have already looked long-term at different profiles and future planning. This would be about balance, not pushing Salah out.”

Nevertheless, the optics matter. Any winger arrival during a period of uncertainty around Salah will inevitably be scrutinised for what it signals about Liverpool’s intentions.

What Semenyo Would and Would Not Address

There is also realism around what Semenyo’s arrival would achieve. While his physical and defensive qualities are appealing, he is not viewed as a solution to Liverpool’s more pressing structural issues.

“At the same time you’re thinking: is he going to solve our defensive issues?” Davis said. “He can’t play centre-back. I suppose he could with those attributes, but is that really what we need? I don’t know. I really don’t know.”

That uncertainty reflects Liverpool’s wider January priorities. Defensive reinforcement remains a clear need, and any attacking addition would need to complement that work rather than distract from it.

Semenyo’s name may continue to surface as January approaches, not because a deal is guaranteed, but because it reveals how Liverpool are weighing the present against the future. With Salah’s situation unresolved, every move is loaded with significance.