Journalist: Liverpool could ‘hijack’ move to sign £65m star in January | OneFootball

Liverpool monitoring Semenyo situation closely

Liverpool’s recruitment team are keeping a close eye on Antoine Semenyo as the January window approaches, with growing awareness that circumstances around the Bournemouth forward could accelerate quickly. While no formal move has been made, industry expectation is that Liverpool have gathered detailed intelligence on Semenyo’s availability, contract structure and the competitive landscape surrounding his future.

Semenyo’s profile fits a familiar pattern. At 25, he is entering his peak years, has proven output in the Premier League and offers physicality, flexibility and directness across the forward line. Liverpool value those attributes highly, particularly in a season where squad depth and tactical adaptability have become essential rather than optional.

Sources indicate that Liverpool’s preference would be to address attacking reinforcements in a controlled manner, ideally outside of a mid-season market. However, the January window has a habit of reshaping priorities, especially when rival clubs signal intent. That context is crucial to understanding why Semenyo remains firmly on Liverpool’s radar.

January window could force Liverpool’s hand

Liverpool have form when it comes to acting decisively if market conditions demand it. Recruitment plans are often set months in advance, but history shows that the club will pivot if there is a genuine risk of losing a primary target to a direct rival.

The January window rarely offers ideal value, yet it does provide leverage for selling clubs and urgency for buyers. Semenyo’s situation is particularly intriguing due to a release clause understood to become active in early 2026. That timeline creates a strategic dilemma: move early at a premium, or risk entering a crowded race later.

Rival interest is not theoretical. Several Premier League clubs have been tracking Semenyo’s performances closely, and Liverpool are acutely aware that any clear signal from Manchester City, Manchester United or Tottenham could compress decision-making timelines. In that scenario, a swift move would be considered to prevent losing ground in a competitive market.

Semenyo’s Premier League credentials appeal to recruitment staff

From a footballing perspective, Semenyo ticks multiple boxes. Comfortable operating from the right, left or through the middle, he brings pace, power and ball-carrying ability, alongside an improving end product. His recent performances against elite opposition have reinforced the view that he can influence games at the highest level.

Liverpool’s recruitment model places significant weight on Premier League adaptation. Semenyo’s familiarity with the league reduces risk and shortens bedding-in time, factors that matter greatly in a January window where immediate contribution is often required.

There is also an appreciation of his off-ball work. Pressing intensity, recovery runs and physical resilience are metrics Liverpool track closely, and Semenyo scores well across those areas. That makes him a stylistic fit within the current tactical framework, particularly in matches where transitions and wide overloads are decisive.

Strategic balance between urgency and restraint

Despite the noise, Liverpool are not expected to rush into a deal unless conditions align. Bournemouth are under no pressure to sell mid-season, and any January valuation would reflect that leverage. Liverpool’s hierarchy remain disciplined when it comes to fees, wages and long-term squad planning.

That said, January windows are shaped as much by external movement as internal desire. Should a rival push aggressively, Liverpool are well-positioned to respond quickly, having already done the groundwork. Semenyo is viewed as a viable option rather than a panic solution, which matters when late decisions are required.

As things stand, Liverpool’s stance can best be described as alert rather than active. Semenyo is admired, the January window is monitored, and contingency plans are in place. Whether that translates into action will depend less on speculation and more on the behaviour of the market itself.