Liverpool ‘to accelerate Antoine Semenyo deal after massive double blow’
Liverpool are planning to accelerate their move to sign Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo in the absence of Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak.
That is according to former Man United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected within the game, as he exclusively told Football Insider that Arne Slot wants to add to his squad in attacking areas.
Isak could now miss as long as three months with a broken leg, while Salah has joined Egypt at AFCON, leaving the Reds short of depth up front.
Semenyo has a £65million release clause in his contract at Bournemouth which has placed a number of top sides including Liverpool on red alert ahead of the January window.
Football Insider revealed on 2 December that Liverpool are the front-runners to sign Semenyo despite uncertainty about whether he will leave mid-season.
Liverpool plan to accelerate Antoine Semenyo signing
Brown told Football Insider on 22 December that Isak’s injury is a massive blow for Liverpool as he finally looked to be hitting form under Slot.
The former scout, who has a wealth of experience in top-level player recruitment after over a decade at Man United during their most successful period, insisted that Semenyo is now the Reds top target to strengthen in January.
“Liverpool are going to step up their interest in Semenyo,” he told Football Insider.
“Now Isak has picked up this serious injury, plus it’s multiplied by Salah and the fact he’s gone to AFCON and may not be at Liverpool for much longer.
“Semenyo is a very good footballer, and he’s somebody who a lot of the top clubs are after.
“So from Liverpool’s point of view, when something like this has happened, it’s a deal they really want to get done and to beat the other clubs to.
“The manager wants to add some attacking depth, so it would make a lot of sense.
“It shows how quickly priorities can change in football, I always used to say you’d be looking at a right-back on Sunday, and by Monday morning you need a left winger.
“It’s the way things go at this time of year especially, so with circumstances changing at Liverpool, there is every chance they could go and get Semenyo.”
Man United, Man City and Arsenal still in Semenyo chase
Brown told Football Insider on 4 December that Man United want to sign Semenyo in January and could accelerate their interest and strengthen their attack.
Semenyo has been a long-term target for Man United, as they also considered a move in the summer before he penned a new deal at Bournemouth.
There have also been claims that Semenyo would love to join Man City, with his future very much up in the air as a number of clubs continue to keep tabs.
Despite that, Mikel Arteta‘s side may opt to be patient in their pursuit, while other top sides are also considering a summer move for the lower price.
This comes after Football Insider revealed Arsenal could wait to sign Semenyo in the summer, when his £65million release clause drops to just £50million.
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