Liverpool transfers: Hughes' PERSONAL scouting trip for Salah replacement

Much was made of Liverpool’s relative lack of transfer business in the summer window, with the Reds only senior acquisitions coming in the form of Federico Chiesa and Giorgi Mamardashvili, who is out on loan this season.

Despite the lack of incomings, Arne Slot’s side have performed well so far this season, with the new Liverpool boss recording eight wins in his first nine games – a record for a new Liverpool coach.

Slot has teamed up with new Sporting Director Richard Hughes to mould a new-look Liverpool squad. Much of the attention is currently on the contract situation surrounding Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold, but Hughes is bound to also have an eye on the January transfer window which is rapidly approaching.

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Hughes made the trip to Bournemouth on Monday to take in their 3-1 win over Premier League newcomers Southampton, in what could have been a personal scouting trip for two of his former club’s star players.

According to the Daily Mail, both Antoine Semenyo and Milos Kerkez are “emerging as targets for a number of Premier League teams.”

With Liverpool looking to a potential future without Salah and needing a long-term replacement for Andy Robertson, Hughes could be tempted to raid his former employers.

Potential Salah replacement

Semenyo has been getting plaudits for his performances in the league so far this season, and has grabbed himself three goals and an assist in six games.

Jamie Carragher suggested that Semenyo is the "best two-footed player" in the Premier League on Monday Night Football after the win over Southampton – the Ghana international is equally comfortable shooting off his right or left foot.

Semenyo had the most shots, shots inside the box and possessions won in the final third against Southampton – stats that  Salah often tops in Slot's Liverpool side.

Hughes was responsible for bringing the forward to the Vitality Stadium from Bristol City in 2023, so the pair know each other well.

It's fair to say that he still has a long way to go to reach the level of Salah, but Semenyo is showing signs that he could be the Premier League's next big breakout star this season.

"Explosive" Andy Robertson backup

Liverpool have been linked with Kerkez before, who could be tempted to join his Hungarian compatriot Dominik Szoboszlai at Anfield in the near future.

The Hungarian international – described as "explosive" by his current manager –  has a reported market value of €15.4m according to Footballtransfers.com, although he would probably cost a lot more.

There has been previous interest in Kerkez from Manchester United and Chelsea, as well as from Germany and Italy, and if Liverpool are to make a move they will face competition for his signature.

Both players are benefitting from Bournemouth's improvement under Andoni Iraola, who has the previously relegation-threatened side looking like a potential contender to challenge for a top half finish this season – Semenyo and Kerkez will be key to that.