Richard Hughes urged Liverpool to sign Antoine Semenyo for £60 million in January, according to a report examining the former sporting director’s time at Anfield. The recommendation was not acted upon, allowing Manchester City to secure the Ghana international from Bournemouth.
Hughes had worked closely with Semenyo during his time at Bournemouth and is understood to have regarded the forward as a ready-made successor to Mohamed Salah. The player was available through a release clause at the time, but Liverpool opted against pursuing the deal.
Semenyo has since made a strong impression at Manchester City. He scored the winning goal in the club’s 1-0 victory over Chelsea in the 2026 FA Cup final, with the Football Association naming him player of the match after his decisive finish at Wembley. ([thefa.com](https://www.thefa.com/news/2026/may/16/emirates-fa-cup-final-chelsea-v-manchester-city-report-20261605?utm_source=openai))
The decision has taken on added significance following Liverpool’s subsequent move for Bradley Barcola. The France international joined from Paris Saint-Germain in a deal worth up to £123m, comprising an initial £106m fee and a further £17m in potential add-ons, according to Liverpool. ([liverpoolfc.com](https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/bradley-barcola-set-liverpool-medical-ps123m-transfer-psg-edges-closer?utm_source=openai))
Why Liverpool may regret passing on Antoine Semenyo
Barcola remains a highly regarded attacking player, but the transfer represented a considerably greater financial commitment than the proposed Semenyo deal. At the time Liverpool were considering their options, Semenyo had already established himself in the Premier League and offered the versatility to operate on either flank.
That made him a particularly logical candidate to succeed Salah, whose influence on Liverpool’s right side had been central to the club’s success. Semenyo’s pace, physicality and experience in English football also offered a different level of certainty to a player arriving from abroad.
Liverpool had a further advantage in Hughes’ relationship with Bournemouth. He had helped bring Semenyo to the south coast from Bristol City and was familiar with the player’s development, meaning the club’s former sporting director was well placed to assess whether he could make the step up.
Instead, Manchester City moved first and have been rewarded with a forward who has quickly made an impact in major matches. Liverpool’s decision not to follow Hughes’ recommendation now looks increasingly costly, particularly after the club committed more than twice as much to recruit Barcola.
