Revealed: What Bournemouth are saying about Ben Doak - Antoine Semenyo swap deal

Liverpool have developed an understandable rapport with fellow Premier League side Bournemouth thanks to sporting director Richard Hughes.

With the south coast club being Hughes’ former employer, Liverpool are looking to take advantage of this new connection in a myriad of ways.

The most obvious symbol of this new relationship is the Reds’ ongoing pursuit of Hungarian left-back Milos Kerkez. Brought to England by Hughes when he was at Bournemouth, it is this link that has led to Kerkez prioritising a move to Anfield should he leave this summer.

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There have also been reports that Liverpool are interested in Bournemouth’s versatile forward Antoine Semenyo, who is having a remarkable season with the Cherries.

Boasting seven goals and four assists across 23 appearances in all competitions, he looks on course to surpass the already decent eight Premier League goals he scored last season.

Semenyo in, Doak out?

Still only 25, Semenyo could be viewed as a potential Mohamed Salah replacement should the need arise, and it had been mooted that in-demand young winger Ben Doak could be used as a makeweight in any potential deal.

It raises an interesting question given the interest several Premier League clubs have displayed in Doak this January after the scintillating form he has shown on loan at Middlesbrough in the Championship.

Both Crystal Palace and Ipswich were interested in signing Doak either permanently or on loan in this current window, and both clubs were turned down by the Reds.

Given Liverpool’s reluctance to cut short Doak’s loan and sell him outright or on loan to a fellow Premier League club, any potential deal would have to be worth Liverpool’s time, and a potential deal for Semenyo would constitute that.

However, a report has seemingly confirmed that Bournemouth have no interest in signing Doak and would therefore “not entertain” any offers that would see Semenyo and Doak swap clubs.

It appears the Reds will again have to look elsewhere for potential attacking recruits.

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