Former Chelsea and West Ham defender, Scott Minto, has made his stance clear that Liverpool should focus their January transfer efforts on acquiring Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi rather than pursuing Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo.
Liverpool made significant investments during the summer transfer window, spending in excess of £400 million to back manager Arne Slot following his triumphant maiden Premier League title-winning campaign at Anfield. High-profile additions such as Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak underscored the club’s ambitions, and further spending in January seems a possibility.
Despite Semenyo’s impressive form for Bournemouth, where the Ghanaian winger possesses a £65 million release clause, Minto believes that defensive reinforcements should be prioritised, particularly after Liverpool’s summer deal for Guehi fell through at the last moment.
Discussing the situation on talkSPORT, Minto commented, “Antoine Semenyo is undoubtedly a brilliant player with a great personality. His strength, skill, and tactical understanding make him an exceptional talent. However, I don’t think he’s what Liverpool need right now. The focus ought to be on securing Marc Guehi. They missed out on him in the summer, and his importance to the squad has only increased since.”
Regarding Crystal Palace’s perspective, Minto stated, “If I were at Palace, I’d be doing everything to retain Guehi, especially with their strong prospects in the Conference League. A historic season lies ahead, and each higher league finish translates to substantial financial gains.”
Liverpool manager Arne Slot, when quizzed about potential January signings, played his cards close to his chest. In a recent press conference, he remarked, “There are numerous matches to navigate before January. While my focus isn’t on transfers right now, perhaps our Sporting Director, Richard Hughes, might have different priorities.”
Liverpool now contemplate their next move. Will defensive solidity trump attacking flair as they aim to fortify their title bid come January? Time will tell.