Liverpool are monitoring Antoine Semenyo closely after learning of a release clause at Bournemouth, giving them new hope of securing the versatile forward in the upcoming transfer window.
The reigning champions interest in Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo has quietly gathered pace in recent months, and the situation around the 25-year-old has now taken a significant turn.
Reports emerging this week suggest that Bournemouth have reluctantly accepted the possibility of a January departure, a stance that reflects both Semenyo’s growing influence and the level of attention he is attracting across the Premier League.
Liverpool are among the clubs monitoring the situation closely, while Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are also believed to be keeping a watching brief.
Semenyo only signed a new long-term deal at the Vitality Stadium in the summer, a five-year contract intended to secure his value and provide Bournemouth with some protection in the market.
However, despite that extension, he is understood to have a £65million release clause written into the agreement.
That figure is slightly below the £70m valuation Bournemouth placed on him during the last window, meaning interested clubs could secure his services for marginally less than expected.
It is also claimed that the clause must be activated before a certain date in January in order to give the Cherries enough time to recruit a replacement, which could lead to early movement in the window if competition for his signature intensifies.
Liverpool have already seen the danger Semenyo poses. His brace at Anfield on the opening day of the season was an early highlight of Bournemouth’s campaign and a reminder of his ability to trouble top-level defences.
Although Liverpool eventually overturned the deficit through Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah, Semenyo’s performance made a strong impression within the club, reaffirming the belief that he is continuing to develop into one of the Premier League’s most dynamic wide forwards under the guidance of Andoni Iraola.
His consistency, end product and work rate have elevated him into a key figure for Bournemouth, and it is this combination of attributes that has kept him on Liverpool’s radar. Recruitment staff have tracked his progress for some time, viewing him as a player who could fit naturally into the evolving structure of Arne Slot’s attack.
There is also a quieter, strategic factor that makes Semenyo even more valuable from a Liverpool perspective. He qualifies as a homegrown player, having been registered with an English club for three seasons before the age of 21.
In a league where squad rules restrict the number of non-homegrown players, a versatile forward with Premier League experience and homegrown status is an increasingly rare commodity.
Liverpool have worked carefully to maintain balance in this area, and Semenyo’s eligibility gives them greater freedom in future recruitment, especially if the club intend to strengthen in multiple areas over the next two windows.
With Mohamed Salah expected to join Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations in January, Liverpool will be without their most influential attacker for several weeks. Ghana’s failure to qualify for AFCON means Semenyo will remain available throughout that period, adding another layer of practicality to any potential move.
Longer term, Liverpool know they must prepare for the possibility of a future without Salah. Whether that transition begins in the next year or further down the line, the club are exploring options that can ease that eventual shift.
Semenyo is not a like-for-like replacement few players in world football are—but his combination of pace, ball-carrying ability, defensive work and tactical intelligence makes him a realistic option as part of a broader plan to reshape the front line.
Liverpool’s start to the season has not been what was expected. Eighth in the Premier League and eight points behind leaders Arsenal, the club are already looking ahead, assessing what can be improved in January and what may need to wait until the summer.
For now, the situation remains fluid. Bournemouth have no desire to lose one of their most influential players midway through the season, but the combination of the release clause, the level of interest and Semenyo’s form means circumstances may soon be out of their hands.
Liverpool will continue to monitor developments closely in the coming weeks as the January window approaches.
