Liverpool are set to return to their previous transfer policies.
During the club’s successful years under Jurgen Klopp, the team was built on good signings. Liverpool looked for value in the market by targeting players at ”smaller” clubs. The Reds brought in the likes of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Andrew Robertson for very affordable fees.
These players formed the spine of the club, and led them to multiple successes. Liverpool have made just one permanent transfer for the first team since last summer. Arne Slot has had to work with the current squad. The reds boss has been able to bring the best out of some players in this new system.
Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch are having great seasons after being inconsistent last year.
Quiz: Can you name the team Liverpool signed these players from?
Liverpool set sights on Premier League star
Credit: Imago Images
The reds hired Michael Edwards in 2016. During his six years at Anfield, he supervised some of the club’s most successful signings. Liverpool were one of the only clubs in the league to utilize proper data and scouting. This saw the likes of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah arrive at the club. The two attackers formed a devastating front three alongside Roberto Firmino.
It looks like Liverpool are going that route looking at transfer targets this summer. Alan Nixon broke the news that the reds are keeping a close eye on Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo. The Ghanaian international has quietly been one of the best performers outside the traditional top six clubs. This season, Semenyo has seven goals and three assists.
The forward’s underlying numbers are similar to Sadio Mane, according to Transfer Market Metrics podcast:
“His physical metrics are huge—they almost outperform Sadio Mane.”
“99th percentile for aerial clearances and 92nd percentile for blocks,” Barter revealed. “He’s a physical unit. He helps out at the back with the left-back, which makes him incredibly useful.” This is exactly the kind of all-round play that Liverpool demand from their wide forwards.”
The podcast also point out that his production is similar to that of Diogo Jota at Wolves.
“The numbers aren’t headline sexy, but it’s the way they’re trending. It’s like Jota at Wolves—a Michael Edwards type forward.”
Semenyo fits the profile
Not to get ahead of ourselves, but Antoine Semenyo looks like he could follow in the footsteps of Sadio Mane. Both players were at mid table clubs, and were productive considering the state of their teams. Instead of going after flashy big name targets, this could be exactly the type of signing Liverpool needs.
