Liverpool can sign ‘next Bale’ and gazump Man Utd to Salah replacement | Football | Sport
Former Tottenham striker Darren Bent has called on Liverpool to pursue Bournemouth sensation Antoine Semenyo, with the Ghanaian viewed as the perfect candidate to eventually succeed Mohamed Salah. The winger has elevated his game beyond last season’s remarkable displays, establishing himself as one of the Premier League’s most potent attacking threats. He has netted six times and provided three assists across his opening 11 appearances this season.
Two of those strikes came during the season opener against Liverpool. Semenyo charged the full length of the field before beating Alisson for one of his efforts. Andoni Iraola witnessed a significant player exodus during the summer, including Milos Kerkez’s departure to Liverpool, yet managed to keep hold of his Ghana international.
The Athletic claim that Semenyo possesses a £65million release clause that can be triggered during the opening stages of the January transfer window.
Liverpool are amongst those expressing interest alongside Manchester United and Tottenham, who are also contemplating approaches, however, Bent views Semenyo as the ideal candidate to take over from Salah and the Reds must consider their future plans imminently.
He said on talkSPORT: “He has exploded out of the traps this season and he just looks really comfortable in himself. Every game you see him do something and you go, ‘Oh my goodness’… he’s one of those rare players and I call players like this unstoppable. Gareth Bale was like that.
“When I talk about unstoppable I’m talking about their attributes. When Bale started to move, you just couldn’t stop him and Semenyo is the same. Once he gets going, he’s going past people and he’s gliding. What’s good about him is that he can go both ways. I think he’s got the full package.
“For so long now, Liverpool have been able to depend on Salah on that right-hand side, season upon season, and don’t get me wrong, he’s been one of the best players we’ve ever seen in this country. But the signs are that he potentially maybe is slowing down a fraction. Now, all of a sudden, you have to start addressing both sides.”
The Cherries have remarkably maintained their position near the Premier League’s summit throughout much of this season despite witnessing several key stars depart.
Dean Huijsen’s impressive displays secured his switch to Real Madrid, and Semenyo may harbour similar ambitions to test his mettle at football’s highest echelon.
The Reds could provide precisely that platform, whilst Bent suggests the Bournemouth sensation might consider himself equal or better than Manchester City‘s Jeremy Doku.
“I think he [Semenyo] would go to Liverpool. I think he can get into any top, top squad,” he added. “You’re still going to get more than enough minutes but it depends on his ambition. His ambition might be: ‘Get me to Manchester City, I’m better than Doku,’ that might be his mindset.”
