Three Biggest Losers If Antoine Semenyo Joins Liverpool
By Abdullah Mamaniyat
There is no doubt that Antoine Semenyo arriving at Liverpool further strengthens the narrative of Arne Slot assembling his own Avengers. It is certainly a possibility, with both David Ornstein and Fabrizio Romano confirming that Liverpool are interested in the Bournemouth star.
Only Erling Haaland (14) and Igor Thiago (9) have scored more Premier League goals this season, making Semenyo a highly sought-after player. This record is even more impressive given the key departures from the Cherries over the past summer.
It was revealed that Semenyo could be available for £65m as soon as January, in line with his release clause that would further drop down to £50m in June. Given the Ghanaian winger has been one of the Premier League’s standout performers this season, it would be a significant risk for any interested club to postpone a move until the summer. This transfer saga is widely expected to dominate the winter headlines.
With Semenyo’s potential arrival, the immediate opportunities under Slot could be limited for several current players:
1) Rio Ngumoha
Credits : SkySports
Rio Ngumoha is an exciting young talent who captured attention in August when he came on as a stoppage-time substitute for Cody Gakpo against Newcastle United. Just days before his 17th birthday, he scored the winning goal on his Premier League debut, becoming the club’s youngest ever scorer.
Since then, Arne Slot has tempered expectations by using Ngumoha sparingly in the early days of his career. Whilst he is capable of playing on the right wing, he has featured on the left wing for The Kop behind the pecking order of Cody Gakpo, Federico Chiesa and most recently, Florian Wirtz.
In a recent podcast for The Athletic, Ornstein said
“They [Liverpool] didn’t replace Luis Diaz in the summer, they don’t want to block Rio Ngumoha’s pathway but perhaps an acquisition of Semenyo’s level would work.”
Whilst not directly competing with Semenyo for a place in the team, Ngumoha would suffer from an oversaturation of interchangeable players inside this team. Being further down the pecking order is a quick humbling from the heights of August. If Semenyo does arrive, a loan spell for Ngumoha to gain experience would be a sensible next step, at least until Mohamed Salah eventually departs the club.
2. Federico Chiesa
Credits - Liverpool FC via Getty Images
On paper, Federico Chiesa should be one of the main beneficiaries of Salah's departure for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in December. The tournament runs from December 21st to January 18th, and with a strong Egypt side, Salah is expected to reach the later stages. This period, especially with the FA Cup starting in the New Year, should guarantee Chiesa more minutes.
However, the reality may not be so straightforward. Chiesa has been used sporadically ever since his arrival at the club, but statistically has started the season productively with limited minutes. A return of 2 goals and 3 assists has increased Slot’s trust levels in him, and offers the same style of directness that Salah does albeit to a lesser degree.
Semenyo's arrival would introduce another layer of direct competition, which is already complicated by the summer additions of Hugo Ekitike and Aleksander Isak. Psychologically, it would indicate to Chiesa that his influence on the team remains limited compared to other star players.
3. Hugo Ekitike
Credits : This Is Anfield
When Hugo Ekitike arrived at Anfield this summer, there was a lot of buzz about securing one of the most exciting youngsters in Europe. His impact was felt immediately on the pitch, scoring or assisting in every competition he has played for with Liverpool so far. It felt as though he would lead the future as the face of this ‘new’ Liverpool, but as the transfer window shut on September 1, Aleksander Isak had arrived for a club record fee of £125m.
It seemed unfortunate for Ekitike to have the spotlight taken away so soon, despite performing well on the pitch. While Isak has endured a slow start to life on Merseyside, Ekitike has continued to lead the line for Slot as the main striker. However, it feels inevitable that his starting minutes will diminish as the season progresses.
Semenyo's arrival would be a second piece of bad luck, as the Bournemouth man is just as capable of playing as a striker or on the wing as Ekitike. The silver lining for the former Frankfurt man is his earlier experience playing on the left. Displacing Cody Gakpo (or Wirtz on the left) would be his most viable route into the long-term 'best' starting line-up alongside Isak (CF) and Semenyo (RW).
With teammates Salah, Wirtz, and Isak potentially hitting form, Semenyo’s signing might see Ekitike become the sacrificial player in the second half of the season, which would not help his prospects for the France squad at the 2026 World Cup.