Liverpool could sacrifice player Jurgen Klopp thinks is 'special' in huge swap deal - The Mirror

Liverpool hold a bargaining chip over their Premier League rivals should they pursue their transfer interest in Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo, who could be part of a swap deal

Liverpool could use Ben Doak as a makeweight to sign Bournemouth standout Antoine Semenyo.

The Cherries are reportedly interested in signing Doak, 19, who has been a regular in the Championship for play-off contenders Middlesborough this season. And that coincides with Liverpool taking a liking to Semenyo.

The Ghana international, 25, is a key part of the side that Andoni Iraola has surprisingly mounted a European football push with. That's why a £50million price tag has been slapped on him for the January transfer window.

While it, therefore, looks likely any business between the two Premier League clubs will be put on hold until the summer, Doak's performances put his parent club in a strong negotiating position.

The midfielder is valued at £30m, according to the Sun, which would drastically reduce the outlay needed to sign Semenyo. The same report claims the Cherries are hopeful of winning the race for his signature - and view him as an ideal replacement should Semenyo leave. The Reds would be sacrificing a highly-rated prospect, though, if they decided to sell or use him in a potential swap deal.

Former boss Jurgen Klopp made no secret of his high praise for Doak during his time in charge. "Special boy. Really confident, has something nobody else delivers really, this kind of dribbling, this kind of straight-forward bravery, all these kind of things," Klopp said in 2023.

However, there appears to be no immediate path into the first team at Anfield for him, at least not the starting XI, with Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai all excelling for Arne Slot this season. The likes of Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott are then first in line behind that trio.

Slot is less blessed for options on the right side of his attack, which could become a major problem should Mohamed Salah not agree a new contract and depart as a free agent come the end of the season. And that appears to not be lost on club chiefs, hence the interest in Semenyo.

He's netted five goals and provided two assists in 19 league appearances so far this season. That's also said to have attracted the attention of Newcastle United.

Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.