After Mohamed Salah chose to leave his future uncertain during his bombshell interview on Saturday, December 6, transfer speculation is rife about the Egyptian. Liverpool great Michael Owen, meanwhile, has already identified a potential replacement for Salah.
But who is the mystery man Owen has been so impressed with in the recent past?
Michael Owen Urges Liverpool To Sign Premier League Star
Speaking on Premier League Productions, Owen asserted that Liverpool should target Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo if Salah is sold in the near future. He also pointed out the Ghana international’s tendency to score goals.
“He is a brilliant player. He scores goals and we don’t know if Mohamed Salah will stay or leave but, if he leaves, Semenyo should be his replacement,” the former Real Madrid and Manchester United striker, who left Liverpool in 2004, remarked (via Tribal Football).
Semenyo, who will turn 26 next January, has cemented himself as one of the most exciting wingers in the Premier League over the past year. He joined the Andoni Iraola-coached side from Bristol City in January 2023 and is adept at operating on both flanks.
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A pacy and clinical wide operator, Semenyo helped Bournemouth register their highest-ever Premier League points tally (56) in the 2024-25 campaign.
The right-footed winger, who is valued at $75 million by Transfermarkt, has bagged 22 goals and recorded 10 assists in his last 65 Premier League matches, including 62 starts.
Steven Gerrard Has His Say on Salah Crisis at Liverpool
Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has sympathized with Salah following the latter’s remarks about being made a scapegoat at the Anfield outfit. However, he has also stated the winger should have had an internal discussion with Reds head coach Arne Slot.
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“He’s obviously really upset he’s not playing which I respect. He won’t sit out the team, I respect. A couple of lines about throwing people under the bus, wrong. He needs to reverse a little bit away from that, he needs to deal with that with the manager,” Gerrard said on TNT Sports.
The former Liverpool captain added, “At the end of the day, Liverpool football club need Mo Salah back playing well, back scoring goals because he is the best player, the best scorer, and he will help them get out of this. If this goes on, this is bigger than what we all know and what we see.”
Salah, 33, has scored only five goals in 19 overall appearances for the Reds this term. The former Chelsea star is set to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations on Monday, Dec. 15.
