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Bournemouth would demand north of £75million for in-form Antoine Semenyo, according to sources, with Liverpool and others said to be keeping tabs on the Ghana international.
Interest is not advanced at this stage but Liverpool Confidential has spoken to insiders who insist the Premier League champions are one of several clubs closely monitoring the 25-year-old forward.
Bournemouth would be extremely reluctant to entertain a conversation around selling Semenyo in January and any move would likely be slated for next summer.
The Cherries are in a strong financial position having sold Dean Huijsen, Illia Zabarnyi and Milos Kerkez to Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool respectively for around £155m.
They are also fourth in the table with realistic ambitions of a first-ever European push under talented coach Andoni Iraola, so it would take an astronomical offer to tempt them to the negotiating table in the winter.
But sources have told Confidential that £75m is around the figure Bournemouth would be looking for in the summer – though this could change if Semenyo continues in the rich vein of form he is in, with six goals and three assists in eight league games this season.
Antoine Semenyo is a man in demand but Bournemouth are likely to ask for up to £75m for the winger
Semenyo has been in tremendous form in the Premier League this season, with six goals already from eight games
Liverpool considered going for Semenyo last summer but decided against buying a wide forward, not wanting to block the progress of young Rio Ngumoha (above)
Tottenham and Manchester United registered an interest in the summer just gone and were quoted big figures. There is some talk that Semenyo has a release clause that becomes active in 2026 but the validity of this remains unconfirmed at present.
Chelsea would also be keen, as would some top clubs on the continent. Bayern Munich could have a look at the situation depending on Michael Olise’s contract talks, with several clubs sniffing around the French superstar.
Liverpool’s sporting director Richard Hughes signed Semenyo from Bristol City in 2023 and he is two games away from his 100th appearance on the south coast. Hughes retains good relations with his former club, which could be key to any potential deal in the future.
The Reds thought about signing Semenyo last summer but decided against buying a wide forward, not wanting to block the progress of young Rio Ngumoha. But they have looked slightly light in those areas in the opening months of the season.
INJURY UPDATE: RYAN'S NOT IN GRAVE DANGER
Ryan Gravenberch is hoping to be fit for Saturday’s trip to Brentford in the Premier League after limping off during the defeat by Manchester United and missing the 5-1 win at Eintracht Frankfurt this week.
The Dutch midfielder twisted his ankle and was still in some discomfort on Tuesday, according to sources, so opted not to fly to Germany.
Ryan Gravenberch lies on the floor in pain during Liverpool's loss to Manchester United at Anfield... but he should be back for the weekend
Alexander Isak will have a scan to check the severity of the injury that forced him off at Eintracht Frankfurt
It is his second minor injury of October after he flew home early from Netherlands duty, reporting minor hamstring discomfort.
But the 23-year-old is hopeful of being fit to face Brentford. Fellow midfielder Wataru Endo is also fit again after a recent injury ruled him out of a Japan camp over the international break. Alisson will not play in west London and is set to be on the sidelines for a bit longer yet.
Liverpool will wait on updates from Jeremie Frimpong and Alexander Isak with both set for scans upon their return to Merseyside.
PSYCHOLOGY MASTER BACKS SLOT
Liverpool Confidential caught up with a former Premier League footballer turned psychology expert this week to get the lowdown on what Arne Slot can work on to get the team back on track after three successive league defeats.
Paul McVeigh, formerly of Tottenham and Norwich, is a published author and keynote speaker who provides leadership and elite performance talks to high-profile businesses and their leadership teams including BMW, Microsoft and Deutsche Bank.
And he tells us: ‘Slot is the figurehead as manager and his responsibilities are not limited to just formations, tactics and player selection, but psychology, mentality and tapping into each individual to get the best out of them too.
‘He sets the culture and the mindset within the group and on the back of a three-loss streak which will be new to him as Liverpool manager, it is his responsibility to restore the belief in the dressing room.
‘That starts with reminding this squad that they are the best and that they not only have a point to prove when it comes to the fans, media and coaching staff, but also to teams they are in direct competition with, that they can handle the pressure-cooker environment when the inevitable blip in form comes.
Arne Slot will need his powers of motivation to lift the players in the Anfield dressing room
‘The best teams suffer drops in quality and will lose games, but how they respond is what can be the difference between being a champion or falling short.’
WOODMAN KNOCKING ON SLOT'S DOOR
Freddie Woodman is in firm consideration to make his Liverpool debut in Wednesday's Carabao Cup clash with Crystal Palace.
It is believed Slot is considering giving the 28-year-old goalkeeper a chance to play in the cup match to avoid risking Giorgi Mamardashvili, who is deputising for the injured Alisson.
Slot thinks that his back-up keeper should always play in the domestic cups and this was demonstrated last year. Vitezslav Jaros, now on loan at Ajax, started a cup game at Brighton when Alisson was injured to rest Caoimhin Kelleher, at that moment the main keeper.
Woodman has made a good impression at the AXA Training Centre since his arrival and is described as a bubbly character who raises standards.
The 2017 Under-20 World Cup Golden Glove winner spent the previous six seasons in the Championship for Swansea and then Preston.
Goalkeeper Freddie Woodman could make his Liverpool debut next week in the Carabao Cup clash with Crystal Palace
A RELAXING TUESDAY AFTER ALL
It was sold as ‘travel chaos’ when Liverpool’s flight to Frankfurt was delayed by four hours – but it was hardly like they were sitting twiddling their thumbs in a sweaty departure lounge or wasting away in the airport Wetherspoons for that time.
While it was undoubtedly an annoyance, it is understood Liverpool instead returned to the AXA Training Centre and chilled out there instead. A bit more spacious than the tight departure lounge of the XLR Private Jet terminal at John Lennon Airport.
The squad checked into their hotel at around 11pm in Germany and went straight to bed before a relaxing day. Away day trips are probably rather boring for players as, due to their fame, they can hardly take in all the sights – though they did manage a short walk for a coffee in the charming city.
SLOT GIVES EAGLES COACH THE GO AHEAD
Slot has played a role in taking down Aston Villa this week – by helping Go Ahead Eagles prepare for their clash against Unai Emery’s side today.
Melvin Boel, who was formerly a coach at Slot’s old side Feyenoord, is manager of the Dutch team and called up his old pal.
Slot and his mainly-Dutch backroom team helped Boel with analysis, clips and advice on how to beat in-form Villa.
Liverpool play Villa at Anfield in nine days so it was not wasted time.
Go Ahead Eagles coach Melvin Boel, who used to work with Slot, gives instructions to his player Dean James
ACADEMY WATCH: DERRY BOYS!
Slot’s men were not the only side to score five goals in Frankfurt on Wednesday as Liverpool's Under 19s also did so in a pulsating 5-4 thriller in the UEFA Youth League.
It was one of the best matches of football I have ever been to, and it was great to chat to two-goal star Trent Kone-Doherty, the 19-year-old signed from Derry City, at full time.
I asked him who his idol in world football was, past or present, and he said: ‘Luis Diaz. Even when he was at Liverpool, I liked how he played the game. He is a good idol to look at. He is a player I like to watch, if I can take things from his game I will try to.’
On new youth-team boss Rob Page - the former Wales manager - who has overseen two wins and a draw in the Youth League so far, Kone-Doherty said: ‘He is so good. All the lads would agree. It is so good having him here.
‘Knowing he has already had first-team jobs and done well there... he knows what it takes to get there. Anything he says, I am the first person to listen.’
We also caught up with Page himself, who was on punditry duty during England versus Wales in the international break, and the Reds coach said: ‘It could have been 10-10 couldn’t it? What a game! Every time we got the ball on the right-hand side, Kieran (Morrison) was outstanding.
‘They couldn't cope with him, they ended up doubling up against him. The main thing we have said to Kieran is the final detail, the same for Trent. About that end product, that final decision, you need to be ruthless. Against top teams you don't get (many) chances, they are limited. When you get them, you need to be ruthless in your actions. All he can do is worry about bringing that level every single week.’
Morrison was outstanding in this victory with a role in all five of Liverpool’s goals, one of the finest performances I have seen from the Northern Ireland international, once of Manchester United. If he can bring that level every week, he will be knocking on the first-team door soon.
Trent Kone-Doherty scored twice for Liverpool in their thrilling 5-4 win over Frankfurt in the UEFA Youth League in midweek
Winger Kieran Morrison is also impressing the powers-that-be at Anfield
…BUT DANNS' FUTURE STILL UNCLEAR
The more you hear about Jayden Danns’s injury, the worse it sounds.
Danns, who played for the first team last month against Southampton in the Carabao Cup, suffered a bad hamstring issue on September 27 and Liverpool are still none the wiser in terms of a timeframe. It is thought he might need surgery.
That would be a devastating blow for the 19-year-old, who spent most of last season on the treatment table and did not play a single minute when on loan at promoted Sunderland due to injuries.
Let’s hope he gets some good news soon.
