Liverpool in direct contact over £70m transfer

Richard Hughes is making direct contact over a £70m transfer for Liverpool.

It does feel like the summer window happened just yesterday. But already Liverpool are making plans for the next window and beyond.

Hughes did conduct a lot of business over the last transfer period as opposed to his first year in charge which was relatively quiet. That's been the plan all along though.

His first year was about adjusting to his role and learning as much as he can about the squad, while trying to retain key players. Now the mission is to build on the squad and to establish a dynasty.

One area where Hughes has been desperate to strengthen is on the flanks. Even in his first summer, he had tried to sign Anthony Gordon and Yankuba Minteh in his first summer.

Earlier this year in the January window, Hughes explored a move for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia before opting to not bring him in and the Georgian signing for Paris Saint Germain instead.

Then over the course of the summer the Reds had monitored several players including the likes of Malick Fofana and Bradley Barcola but did not make a direct move for any of them.

The plan remains for Liverpool to sign a winger though. It's clear that long-term Arne Slot cannot have his wing options as merely Mo Salah, Cody Gakpo and Rio Ngumoha.

There needs to be more firepower in that attack and one player who has emerged on the club's radar is Antoine Semenyo, with the Reds now leading the race for his signature.

That is according to the increasingly reliable Indy Kalia. He has reported on how Hughes is now in direct contact with Bournemouth over a deal for Semenyo and that Liverpool are the front runners for his signature at the moment.

Kalia also revealed that Semenyo has a release clause which is £90-100m in the January window and goes down to just £70m in the summer window.

At this moment in time, we cannot really see Liverpool making a move in the winter, unless a rival got involved in the race. However, in the summer that £70m transfer seems like a typical move under Hughes based on his track-record so far.

It's also a bargain deal for Semenyo, who has been one of the best players in the Premier League so far this season and who would really suit Slot's style of play.

The Ghanian would elevate Liverpool and take the Reds to another level. He is the winger Hughes has been crying out for. Which is why this a move worth keeping an eye on.

The fact that Hughes is already in contact is a great sign. Liverpool moved early for a lot of their targets last season. By this time last year, Milos Kerkez had already been contacted over a potential move to the club.

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