Outgoing Liverpool man wanted to make move for £60m Premier League flyer | OneFootball

Antoine Semenyo Miss Could Define Richard Hughes’ Complex Liverpool Legacy

Richard Hughes leaves Liverpool with a record that will probably require years rather than months to judge properly. There was a Premier League title, enormous expenditure, several expensive disappointments and, perhaps most intriguingly, one transfer he wanted that Liverpool chose not to make.

Antoine Semenyo.

The Athletic’s detailed examination of Hughes’ two and a half years at Liverpool reveals that the former sporting director urged the club to sign Semenyo for £60million in January 2026. Hughes viewed the Bournemouth forward as a ready made replacement for Mohamed Salah, whose Liverpool future had become uncertain.

Liverpool declined to act. Manchester City did.

For supporters trying to understand Hughes’ complicated record at Anfield, that decision deserves considerable attention.

Semenyo Recommendation Shows Hughes Saw Liverpool’s Problem

Hughes arrived at Liverpool carrying a strong reputation from Bournemouth, where his recruitment record included Nathan Ake, Illia Zabarnyi, Milos Kerkez, Antoine Semenyo and Dominic Solanke. Several were subsequently sold for substantial profits.

That knowledge of Semenyo clearly remained.

According to The Athletic, Hughes “urged the Liverpool hierarchy to sign him for £60million last January”, viewing the attacker as the solution if Salah departed. Liverpool waited while Salah’s situation remained unresolved, and Semenyo instead joined Manchester City.

Photo: IMAGO

That looks increasingly significant because Liverpool eventually had to confront precisely the attacking succession problem Hughes had identified.

Liverpool subsequently committed extraordinary sums elsewhere. Florian Wirtz arrived for a projected £116million, Alexander Isak cost £125million and Bradley Barcola eventually joined in a projected £123million deal after an almost year long pursuit led by Hughes.

Semenyo therefore represents something different. Hughes identified a Premier League proven forward he already knew intimately, recommended the deal and seemingly could not convince Liverpool to act.

£400million Spending Spree Complicates Hughes Verdict

Any assessment of Hughes becomes difficult because Liverpool’s transfer strategy lurched between extremes.

His first summer brought Federico Chiesa and little else. Liverpool then won the Premier League under Arne Slot. Twelve months later, Hughes was praised after Liverpool broke the British transfer record twice and recruited Wirtz, Isak, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Hugo Ekitike.

Results changed perceptions rapidly.

Liverpool finished fifth, Slot was dismissed and Jamie Carragher subsequently warned on Sky Sports that the 2025 window could become “the worst transfer window we’ve probably seen in Premier League history” unless Wirtz and Isak improve.

There are already signs of recovery. Isak has scored three goals across his last two appearances, while Liverpool retain confidence that Wirtz will ultimately succeed. Assessments of Frimpong and Kerkez have reportedly been less favourable.

Hughes consequently leaves behind plenty of unfinished arguments.

Liverpool Squad Still Carries Recruitment Questions

This summer hardly simplified matters.

Liverpool signed Ronald Araujo on loan, Jeremie Jacquet, Victor Munoz and Barcola, with Hughes remaining involved despite knowing he would leave for Al Hilal. Yet the squad Andoni Iraola inherited still contains obvious areas of concern.

The Athletic describes Liverpool as short at right back, in midfield and potentially on the right wing, while appearing overloaded on the left. Barcola, despite his enormous talent, naturally prefers operating from the left.

That brings the conversation back towards Semenyo.

Liverpool knew Salah succession planning would eventually become unavoidable. Hughes apparently believed Semenyo offered the answer and was prepared to commit £60million to getting it done.

That recommendation arguably strengthens Hughes’ recruitment credentials while simultaneously raising questions about Liverpool’s wider decision making.

Hughes Leaves Liverpool With Questions Unanswered

Hughes was evidently respected personally inside football.

One source told The Athletic: “He’s a very honest guy, humble, no attitude and what he says usually is correct. With Richard you know exactly what’s going to happen because he doesn’t do things differently behind the scenes. There are a lot of d***heads in football and he isn’t one of them.”

His contribution following Diogo Jota’s tragic death in July 2025 also deserves to remain separate from footballing criticism.

A senior Liverpool source said: “Richard, like Arne, led us through the aftermath of Diogo’s tragic passing. That will always be Richard’s most important work, no matter how good any of his signings turn out to be.”

Football eventually reduces executives to decisions, however, and Hughes leaves Liverpool with plenty still awaiting judgement.

Wirtz, Isak and Barcola could yet transform the perception of his tenure. Iraola could turn an expensive collection of players into an outstanding team.

Semenyo provides another strand to that story.

Hughes saw the opportunity. He recommended Liverpool take it. Liverpool decided otherwise.

How much they eventually regret that decision could become an important part of how his time at Anfield is remembered.

Our View, Anfield Index Analysis

From a Liverpool supporter’s perspective, the Semenyo revelation might be among the most frustrating details to emerge from The Athletic’s report.

Liverpool needed to think seriously about life after Salah. Hughes apparently did exactly that. He knew Semenyo from Bournemouth, understood his character and qualities, and recommended spending £60million to bring him to Anfield.

That feels particularly important given what happened afterwards.

Liverpool eventually spent considerably more money reshaping their attack, yet questions remain about its balance. Barcola is an outstanding talent, but Liverpool already possess players comfortable operating from the left. The right side remains far less convincing.

Semenyo could have addressed that problem much earlier.

It also changes the Hughes debate slightly. Supporters can reasonably criticise the squad he leaves behind, particularly when hundreds of millions have been spent. Yet recruitment decisions are rarely made by one individual.

If Hughes strongly recommended Semenyo and Liverpool’s hierarchy rejected the proposal, responsibility for missing that opportunity cannot simply be placed at his door.

His Liverpool tenure remains difficult to categorise. Some decisions worked spectacularly, others have looked expensive and questionable.

Semenyo, however, might become the transfer Hughes wanted that Liverpool supporters ultimately wish he had been allowed to complete.