Liverpool’s strong performance in the January transfer window may give Arn Slott and Richard Hughes some optimism as the year draws to a close. Despite January being often seen as a quality-driven seller’s market, Liverpool have managed to secure some top-class players over the course of the last few seasons.
Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge are prime examples, along with Codi Gakpo and Luis Dias. However, it is Luis Suárez and Virgil van Dijk who truly represent Liverpool’s January success, with current captain Van Dijk in particular having been key in his contributions from 2019 to 2025.
Despite summer spending approaching $500 million, the Liverpool Echo claims it is likely to be a quiet January for the Reds. Anfield bosses have not ruled out some action, but the club’s policy is to only act if a “market opportunity” arises.
Inevitably, all eyes will be on Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, whose £65m release clause means he is signed by virtually every major club in England. The Ghanaian international previously turned down approaches from Tottenham and attracted the attention of Manchester United last summer.
After an impressive nine-goal first half of the season at the Vitality Stadium, a record only surpassed by Brentford’s Igor Thiago and Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, Liverpool are one of several clubs reportedly interested in the player.
On Sunday evening, a number of domestic media outlets suggested Liverpool could join the race for the player, who Bournemouth signed from Bristol Rovers in 2023 under sporting director Hughes for just £10m.
Hughes’ presence at Anfield means Liverpool are familiar with the terms of Semenyo’s contract, which could give them an advantage in signing the promising winger. However, Semenyo is widely expected to move to Manchester City.
Anfield and Bournemouth officials believe the 25-year-old forward will sign for Josep Guardiola’s side early next month. His £65m release clause is valid until the 10th of next month, so City are prepared to secure his appointment as soon as possible and the process has reportedly already begun.
Sources with knowledge of Bournemouth’s inner workings claim the champion’s name was rarely mentioned in discussions about Semenyo’s future.
The details of the release clause and Hughes’ detailed knowledge could allow for a dramatic last-minute bid as long as the winger remains on the south coast. But for those keen to secure his signature, it increasingly appears to be a lost cause.
Another player likely to be at the center of much speculation is Marc Guehi, who is entering the final six months of his contract at Crystal Palace. The Eagles captain underwent a medical in London on September 1, when Palace abruptly terminated a £35m deal between the clubs.
Head coach Oliver Glasner, who led the London team to their first major title in the FA Cup in May, denied threats to resign over the potential sale of the captaincy. However, the Austrian has consistently expressed his belief that Palace need to take a more proactive and ambitious approach to transfers.
The departure of the club captain on transfer deadline day would certainly contradict this view.
As it stands, Guehi is set to leave Selhurst Park as a free agent. Liverpool may feel they are in a strong position given the England international underwent a medical just a few months ago, but the 25-year-old’s status as a free agent will no doubt attract more competition.
Newcastle have turned down three offers for the summer of 2024, but Marc Gehi is expected to attract even more international attention this summer, with football giants Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan reportedly interested.
Crystal Palace are almost certain to keep the defender for another month as they believe his value to the team outweighs his potential transfer fee, especially as he embarks on an exciting campaign under Glasner in the Europa Conference League.
The future of Harvey Elliott, who is currently on loan at Aston Villa, is also uncertain. The midfielder has only made a handful of appearances for Unai Emery’s side and with 10 games required to trigger a £35m deal between the clubs, it looks likely that the 22-year-old will remain on the sidelines until the end of the season.
Aston Villa are heading into the new year with an impressive run of 11 consecutive wins under Emery. Attacking midfielder Morgan Rodgers has emerged as one of the Premier League’s standout performers in recent months, but it seems unlikely that Elliott will play many games, especially as Villa remain cautious about their position on profit and sustainability regulations.
From Villa’s point of view, paying £35m for a player who is not a regular starter seems unlikely. The Midlands club would need to approach Liverpool to begin talks about Elliott’s call-up, but Slott denied rumors of a return earlier this month.
Elliott’s versatility and skill could be a boon for Liverpool, especially given their limited forward options. But even before the club brought in Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike, Elliott only started two Premier League games under Slott after winning the title in late April.
Despite a thrilling 3-2 win against Newcastle in August, the England Under-21 star is ineligible to play for any other team this season, effectively leaving him in limbo until the summer. A return to Anfield has not been completely ruled out, but Villa would likely face a financial penalty in that case, and it is understandable that they would be reluctant to do so at this point.
