Liverpool have improved steadily under manager Arne Slott in recent weeks and will be aiming to recapture last season’s title-winning form.
And while the Reds have made some progress after suffering a disastrous Champions League defeat to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield, winning at West Ham and bouncing back to draw with Sunderland, more is needed.
Despite a summer of big spending, it’s clear there are major holes in the team in the slot, with a backline that is beyond weak and a motley group of elite forwards lacking synergy and understanding.
Sporting director Richard Hughes will be giving his all as the January transfer window quickly approaches.
Liverpool’s winter transfer plans
Arguably, the names of Marc Guech and Antoine Semenyo have been touted most frequently this season, and it is understood that Semenyo could be at the top of the list following FSG’s decision to replace Luis Dias directly in August.
However, Semenyo’s £65m price tag and growing interest from Premier League rivals such as Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur suggest that FSG would be wise to keep their options open.
And they do. Barcelona remain dissatisfied with their bid to sign Yann Diomande from RB Leipzig, according to Spanish sources, following growing interest from Liverpool and Spurs.
Leipzig value the 19-year-old winger at €90m (about £78m) and, following negotiations with Bundesliga teams, Liverpool and Tottenham are set to make formal offers this winter.
Why Liverpool should sign Yann Diomande
Kodi Gakpo has been criticized for his performances this season, but he has still started 12 Premier League games, scoring four goals and providing three assists.
Semenyo would likely jockey with the Dutchman for a spot on the left, but signing Diomande may actually be a more providential move for Liverpool as a whole. It would establish a two-pronged option that could allow both players to develop, while bringing back Diaz’s incredible pace and energy.
Either way, Diomand may be a work in progress at the moment, but the teenager has the potential to be a superstar, with coach Harry Brook describing him as an “explosive, well-rounded athlete” and soon to be “worth over £100m”.
Antoine Semenyo vs Yann Diomande (last 12 months) | ||
|---|---|---|
Statistics (per 90) | Semenyo | Diomand |
Number of points scored | 0.36 | 0.36 |
assist | 0.20 | 0.21 |
shot taken | 2.73 | 2.08 |
The action that creates the shot | 3.57 | 5.23 |
touch (to pen) | 4.87 | 7.16 |
Pass completion rate (%) | 72.9 | 81.2 |
progressive path | 3.48 | 3.44 |
progressive carry | 3.79 | 6.66 |
successful take-up | 1.78 | 4.01 |
Number of balls collected | 4.46 | 6.01 |
Tackle + Interception | 1.87 | 2.72 |
Data via FBref | ||
Semenyo may be one of the most dangerous wide forwards in the Premier League, but the data certainly suggests that Diomande has the quality to replace him in the power rankings if he moves to Liverpool in 2026.
He has already become more active and sharp in his ball-carrying and play metrics, with the two-sided winger notching three goals and two assists in just eight starts in the Bundesliga this term, averaging 2.8 dribbles and 4.2 duels won per game (according to Sofascore).
The Ghanaian international has been in great form in the Premier League this season and is also a big-game player, but after over two months without contributing a goal, there is a strong argument that Diomande could develop into an even greater player.
Slot needs to consider the balance and fluency of the entire outfit, and this could be a deal that strengthens that and some even more, allowing players like Gakpo to continue to earn opportunities while adding depth and, more importantly, elite quality.
That’s not to deny Semenyo’s talent. The Cherries’ star is a fantastic forward who Prem has proven to be a great forward. It only highlights the talent of the player Diomande could become in the future.
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