Liverpool ready to pull off spectacular transfer six months in the making

Liverpool are now ready to complete a move six months in the making.

It was interesting that last summer Richard Hughes decided not to sign a replacement for Luis Diaz when he left the club.

The move with the benefit of hindsight has been criticised by many. There were some murmurs that this decision was motivated by the pathway Liverpool wanted to provide Rio Ngumoha.

However, Ngumoha has ended-up hardly featuring and Arne Slot has instead trialled other options on the left-wing ahead of him. So, it doesn't feel like this was entirely Liverpool's plan. If it was, it would have been a failure.

Could there have been an alternative reason as to why Liverpool didn't immediately replace Diaz after his departure?

Well, there might have been and it could come to fruition in the January transfer window.

Antoine Semenyo has been heavily linked with a move to Anfield over the upcoming window. It is well known that he has a release clause worth £65m which can be activated during the early part of the January window.

Anfield Watch spoke to renowned Ghanian journalist Owuraku Ampofo about Semenyo's situation and he confirmed that right now it's Liverpool who have the most concrete interest.

"I think as things stand the teams that really have a genuine interest are Liverpool and then Tottenham also were interested in the summer even before Kudus came in. And then there's Manchester City and Arsenal," Ampofo said.

"The truth is he is an Arsenal fan. He's always been an Arsenal fan. He's never hidden that as well, but I don't think that comes into the business. Professional players who support clubs will end up playing for different clubs.

"There is that understanding that, you know, time is not on his side. If you look at the story of Semenyo, it is rather unorthodox. He was rejected by several clubs and in the end needed to go really from the ground up, he never really had academy football. And so he ended up finding his own path, playing through the lower leagues and climbing up.

"So there's that understanding that his story is unique, and so when the chance comes to take the next level, he needs to take it and every player wants to play in the Champions League. So there is acceptance that he knows. That's another step."

According to Ampofo Liverpool had known about Semenyo's release clause at the time of signing his new deal. The club has a good relationship with his agency so they would have been well aware six months ago that signing him for £65m was a possibility once Diaz had departed.

"Liverpool are the team that have the most concrete interest. And this is because I think the Liverpool sporting directors and Semenyo's agency have a really good relationship," Ampofo continued.

"So with this whole release clause talk being said, Liverpool were made aware that potentially there will be this release clause as of last summer, during the summer when he was about to sign that deal. Liverpool have been following Semenyo all throughout the years and so I wouldn't be surprised if they do make an offer because as I said, they have the most concrete interest.

"Arsenal I just admire Semenyo, nothing concrete. Manchester City also admires him, nothing concrete, Tottenham ater last summer, there was something concrete because as I mentioned, they wanted to really get him before they brought Kudus.

"But yeah, as things stand it is definitely Liverpool that have the most concrete interest and, and I don't think he minds going to Liverpool. It's never a case of him being an Arsenal fan. It's just a case of what is good for his career and you know, what would benefit him at this moment in time."

Interestingly, Liverpool agreed a £65.5m transfer for Diaz, so this is a move that could well be six months in the making. In the January transfer window it might finally be completed.

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