Liverpool on Alert as Antoine Semenyo’s £65m Clause Offers Transfer Window Opportunity

Liverpool’s January transfer plans may have just received a huge lift. As revealed by David Ornstein in The Athletic, Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo has a £65 million release clause in his contract, a figure that could spark serious interest from Arne Slot’s Premier League champions.

Bournemouth “reluctantly accept they may be powerless to prevent Antoine Semenyo from leaving the club as soon as January,” according to Ornstein’s report, despite their wish to keep the 25-year-old until the end of the campaign. After signing a new deal in July that runs until 2030, the Ghana international has hit fine form, registering six goals and three assists while helping Andoni Iraola’s side to ninth in the table.

Slot’s Liverpool have monitored Semenyo for months, and with a fixed release clause now confirmed, the parameters of a potential deal are clearer than ever.

A Proven Performer with Premier League Pedigree

Semenyo’s evolution from raw talent to a polished Premier League forward has been one of the league’s more underappreciated stories. His balance, work rate and ability to use both feet have made him a nightmare for defenders, as one headline from The Athletic put it, “equally threatening with his left and right feet.”

At £65m, his release clause represents strong value in today’s market. As Ornstein explains, “Suitors were told during the previous market that the fee required to secure Semenyo was around £70million,” meaning the January figure provides a clear discount.

Liverpool’s attack has been electric under Slot, but the addition of a player like Semenyo, who can operate across the front line and thrives in transition, could add a new dimension.

Bournemouth’s Track Record of Selling and Surviving

Bournemouth’s structure has proven resilient, even when losing key players. “Centre-back Dean Huijsen moved to Real Madrid in May when they capitalised on a £50m clause,” Ornstein notes, adding that “a year earlier Spurs landed striker Dominic Solanke, who himself had a £65m exit provision.”

That history shows that the Cherries are prepared for high-profile exits. Still, Semenyo’s departure would hit harder than most, given his influence both on and off the pitch. His energy has become a cornerstone of Iraola’s pressing system, and replacing him mid-season will be far from straightforward.

Liverpool’s Potential Move

From Liverpool’s perspective, the timing of this clause could not be better. With uncertainty surrounding potential summer departures and the club seeking to refresh its forward options, Semenyo ticks many boxes: proven in England, adaptable across multiple roles, and still entering his peak years.

If the £65m clause is indeed active in January, Liverpool’s recruitment team will surely be weighing up a decisive move. As one Anfield source privately suggested, “A player of his profile fits what we are building under Arne.”

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

Liverpool fans will see this report as a real boost. Semenyo has all the hallmarks of a Slot-style forward: energetic, fearless and direct. He can play off the right or through the middle, pressing relentlessly while offering genuine end product.

Many supporters have been calling for greater depth in attack, especially with the ongoing uncertainty around Mohamed Salah’s long-term future. Semenyo could be both a short-term weapon and a long-term investment. His versatility would give Slot more flexibility when rotating the front three across domestic and European fixtures.

Bournemouth may be resilient, but this feels like a transfer that aligns with Liverpool’s smart, data-driven model. Should the clause be triggered, fans will hope that Semenyo’s next celebration comes in front of the Kop rather than the Vitality stands.