Liverpool told to sign ‘very good’ Premier League forward | OneFootball

Liverpool Admire Bournemouth Star Semenyo as Transfer Interest Builds

Hughes connection fuels Liverpool interest

Liverpool’s admiration for Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo continues to grow, with the club’s recruitment team, led by Richard Hughes, reportedly keeping close tabs on the 25-year-old ahead of the summer transfer window. The Reds are not deterred by Bournemouth’s valuation of close to £70 million for the Ghana international.

Photo: IMAGO

Hughes, now Liverpool’s director of football, played a significant role in Bournemouth’s successful recruitment strategy before his move to Anfield. The likes of Nathan Aké, Aaron Ramsdale, Ilya Zabarnyi, Milos Kerkez, and Justin Kluivert were all signed under his watch. Hughes is also believed to have laid the groundwork for the potential arrival of Dean Huijsen—a player Liverpool are also monitoring closely.

With Semenyo now on Liverpool’s radar, Hughes’ prior working relationship with the Cherries could prove valuable once again.

Semenyo’s rise from raw prospect to Premier League force

A relatively late bloomer, Semenyo arrived at Bristol City from South Gloucestershire and Stroud College rather than a traditional academy system. After loan spells at Newport County and Sunderland, it was former Bristol City manager Lee Johnson who handed him his senior debut in 2018.

Photo IMAGO

“He didn’t have the knowledge, did he?” Johnson told talkSPORT. “He didn’t have the pedigree, he hadn’t really come through an academy. Like I say, he was playing at the college.”

“Everybody at the club had to put a lot of effort in. But, at the end of the day, the player has still got to buy into that and implement those changes. He was a powerful player but he’s also now a very good athlete.”

Semenyo’s development has been dramatic. Signed by Bournemouth in 2023 for £10 million, he has now scored 10 goals in all competitions this season—eight of them in the Premier League—making 2024/25 his most productive campaign to date.

Photo: IMAGO

Style suits Liverpool’s recruitment blueprint

Semenyo’s game profile appears well-suited to Liverpool’s historical model under Michael Edwards and, now, Richard Hughes. He combines pace, physicality, and direct running with an ever-improving sense of tactical discipline and finishing composure.

With Mohamed Salah entering the final stages of his Liverpool career and Diogo Jota’s fitness often under question, Arne Slot will need fresh attacking options in the coming window. Semenyo fits a familiar mould—much like Sadio Mané and Salah before him: players who were promising but became elite under Liverpool’s development model.

His performance at Anfield in August 2023—scoring within three minutes in Bournemouth’s eventual 3-1 defeat—only reinforced the sense that Semenyo belongs on the big stage.

Competition building as clubs circle

Liverpool are not the only side monitoring the former Bristol City forward. Manchester United, Newcastle, and several other top-flight clubs are also believed to be watching closely. But the Reds’ familiarity with the player—both through Hughes and detailed scouting—could offer an advantage.

Johnson, for one, would be delighted to see his former player take the next step. “It’s great to see,” he said. “When you see young players that you’ve given debuts to go on and do really well, it’s really rewarding.”

“Now, he’s a really impactful player in the Premier League. It just goes to show that talent is everywhere and you can’t be closed off to recognising that talent. Give them the right environment, develop them and you’ve got a right chance.”