Liverpool Interested in Antoine Semenyo Swap Deal

It has been no secret that some top Premier League teams are admirers of AFC Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo and have been for some time. Arsenal and Liverpool have both been keeping tabs on him this season, but it is the Reds that look more likely to sign him as Arsenal focus on an out and out striker. Liverpool are willing to let young winger Ben Doak leave as part of the deal, which on paper looks like a good trade for both sides, but in reality it is a lot more complicated.

Antoine Semenyo

Semenyo plays as a right winger for Bournemouth and the Ghanaian national team, although he has also been used as a striker on the international stage as well as at his previous club Bristol City. The Cherries signed him from Bristol City two years ago and he has since gone on to score 14 times in the Premier League. This tally mostly comes from the most recent season and a half as after moving in January 2023, he was injured for most of the rest of the 2022/23 season.

[🚨] NEW: Liverpool are considering using Ben Doak in a deal for Antoine Semenyo.

Bournemouth reportedly value Semenyo at around £50m, and Liverpool would ideally not want to pay that kind of fee in this month’s transfer window.

[@Scottwilsonecho] pic.twitter.com/GfiGCgKwDo

— Anfield Sector (@AnfieldSector) January 13, 2025

Semenyo turned 25 a week ago, meaning that he is still young. Arne Slot will be hoping that he can be developed into the Mohamed Salah replacement that Liverpool might need in the summer but Bournemouth won’t be letting him go that easily. They signed him for £10m but given his recent performances, their asking price is around £50m, and given their current injury crisis, I’m not sure the Cherries will even let him go in this window.

Ben Doak

Ben Doak is highly rated at Liverpool, which is why it is shocking that he could be leaving permanently in this window. The 19-year-old winger is currently on loan at Middlesbrough where he has had a decent season so far. In 21 appearances he has scored twice and assisted six times.

The Scottish born winger made his debut on the senior international stage earlier this season, having impressed with the Under 21s. He is yet to score his first goal for Scotland but he certainly has admirers north of the border. Doak joined Liverpool in 2022 from Celtic but could be on his way out already having played just 10 times for the Reds in all competitions.

🍒🚨 Bournemouth have reportedly told sources that Antoine Semenyo will NOT be sold in January after interest from Liverpool and have played down reported interest in swap deal between him and Middlesbrough loanee Ben Doak. 🍒

(@tbrfootball)🥉#afcb pic.twitter.com/swCxOvyXPM

— Simply AFCB 🍒 (@simplyafcb) January 13, 2025

His rawness and unpredictability in terms of performance may be the reason as to why Bournemouth aren’t particularly keen on this deal and would rather sell Semenyo for the full price tag which would allow them to fund a better replacement than Doak. Liverpool are unlikely to be able to afford that in this window, however with ex-Cherries director Richard Hughes now taking up a similar role at Liverpool, it would come as no surprise if they were to come back with a revised offer in the summer for both Semenyo and Milos Kerkez.