Salah successor? Liverpool seal personal terms with Premier League star

December 12, 2025 Oliver Obel

Liverpool are strengthening their forward plans ahead of the January transfer period, with Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo emerging as a primary target. Caught Offside reports that Liverpool have agreed personal terms with the 25-year-old, though a formal bid has not yet been lodged.

Semenyo’s contract includes a £65 million release clause that becomes active in early January. According to the outlet, that clause remains open only until 10 January, a narrow window that may push clubs into early negotiations.

People close to the situation say interest has picked up across the league, with several sides tracking his progress after a standout year.

Manchester City are among the teams monitoring him, and one source familiar with their thinking said they “haven’t ruled out” strengthening in wide areas. Even so, those reports suggest Semenyo is leaning toward a move to Anfield should Bournemouth allow talks to proceed.

Read also: Liverpool search for answers

The south-coast club have not publicly commented on the clause but have previously indicated they expect bids for several key players after strong individual performances last season.

Liverpool’s position is shaped by a period of turbulence in their attack. Record-fee arrivals Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz reshaped the frontline last summer, while departures for Luis Díaz and Darwin Núñez, followed by the tragic loss of Diogo Jota, forced the club to rethink its depth chart.

The uncertainty around Mohamed Salah, who voiced frustration last week according to Caught Offside, has added another layer of complexity. He is still expected to join Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations after the Brighton match, which may temporarily pause speculation.

Semenyo has been one of Bournemouth’s brightest performers since last season, contributing 17 goals and eight assists in league play. Analysts who have followed his development describe him as a physically dominant forward capable of operating in multiple attacking roles attributes that fit Liverpool's preference for adaptable, high-intensity players.

Others caution he is still refining his decision-making in the final third, an area that may determine whether he can shoulder the kind of attacking responsibility Salah has carried for years.

For Liverpool, the attraction lies in his trajectory as much as his current output. At 25, he fits the club’s medium-term planning, and his pressing efficiency is believed to align with head coach Arne Slot’s system.

Whether he becomes a direct successor to Salah remains uncertain, but within recruitment circles he is viewed as one of the more attainable Premier League-proven forwards on the market.

With the champions seeking to steady their form and reinforce their long-term project, Semenyo’s situation is expected to develop quickly once the window opens particularly if clubs begin moving before the release clause expires.

Sources: Caught Offside, Reuters.