Why Liverpool are “completely determined” to signal Iraola’s new Semenyo

There may be these at Liverpool fearing the worst following a muted summer time window, however Andoni Iraola has already confirmed he can maximise what he has at his disposal, following that wonderful current spell at Bournemouth.

The Basque boss misplaced virtually his whole backline final summer time, but barely kicked up a fuss, whereas additionally embarking on a exceptional unbeaten run within the wake of Antoine Semenyo‘s exit to Manchester Metropolis on a £64m deal.

Semenyo had helped to kickstart that 18-game streak by netting the winner in opposition to Tottenham Hotspur on his last Cherries look, with all events reaping the advantages of that amicable departure.

From a promising Championship expertise at Bristol Metropolis, the Ghanaian emerged as a Premier League powerhouse underneath Iraola’s watch, with the longer term actually trying vibrant for Liverpool’s present crop of wingers, subsequently.

Semenyo’s file underneath Iraola at Bournemouth

These watching on at Ashton Gate a number of seasons in the past would possibly properly be shocked to study that Semenyo is now a Manchester Metropolis sensation, contemporary from having scored 17 league targets in 2025/26.

There have been indicators of promise again in Bristol, together with his 20 objective involvements within the Championship in 2021/22, however the London-born speedster did not boast the physique of labor to recommend he may explode at Premier League stage.

And but, the 27-year-old’s rise has been beautiful of late, maybe largely because of the presence of Iraola, the brand new Liverpool boss having moved to the south coast in the summertime of 2023, six months after Semenyo’s personal January swap.

Their first full season working collectively noticed the two-footed winger rating eight instances and register two assists within the prime flight, earlier than he added an extra 16 objective involvements throughout a very breakout 2024/25 marketing campaign.

A rampant begin to 2025/26, following experiences of Manchester United curiosity final summer time, noticed Semenyo safe a deserved transfer to the Etihad, having risen from the Championship to the Champions League in double fast time.

The religion and work of Iraola had been central to that, with the one-time Newport County winger finally scoring and aiding 44 targets in simply 99 video games underneath the ex-Cherries boss.

The likes of Victor Munoz and Rio Ngumoha could properly profit from Iraola’s teaching this season, but with Mohamed Salah’s void nonetheless there to be stuffed, do not rule out additional incomings.

How Liverpool can signal Iraola’s subsequent Semenyo

The backline at Anfield has been strengthened by the shock mortgage arrival of Ronald Araujo, following the prior seize of Jeremy Jacquet, however the aforementioned Munoz stays the one attacking incoming this summer time.

Contemplating Hugo Ekitike stays sidelined, and with Cody Gakpo courting consideration from Tottenham Hotspur, there’s an actual dearth of depth and real high quality, the Reds maybe nonetheless left to rue the choice to maneuver on Luis Diaz a yr in the past.

Alas, it is higher to look ahead than within the rear-view mirror, with hopes nonetheless excessive that Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola may be the marquee signing that the Merseysiders are in want of.

REUTERS/Vincent Carchietta

Within the view of the Every day Mail’s Lewis Steele – chatting with talkSPORT – FSG are nonetheless “completely determined” to snap up the Frenchman this summer time, with Barcola himself additionally “eager” on the transfer.

Each events, and the participant, seem like open to this deal going forward, with funds more likely to be the one sticking level, in addition to PSG’s personal seek for a substitute.

If phrases may be agreed earlier than the deadline, this is able to mark such a coup for Liverpool, with Barcola becoming the Semenyo mould as a lightning-fast winger who could possibly be the driving pressure of Iraola’s ahead line.

The important thing characteristic of Barcola’s recreation is his breathtaking pace and innate dribbling prowess, the 23-year-old notably averaging 1.2 profitable dribbles per recreation in Ligue 1 final season, in addition to 1.1 per recreation within the Champions League.

For comparability, Semenyo was solely simply forward with a 1.6 common within the Premier League throughout his time with out Bournemouth and Metropolis in 2025/26, so adept at beating full-backs at will.

In Barcola’s case, he actually made an influence in Might’s Champions League last win over Arsenal, stretching the Gunners’ defence off the bench with a handful of searing runs in behind, one in all which ended with a shot that flashed into the aspect netting.

A yr earlier, within the thumping 5-0 win over Inter Milan within the showpiece, the previous Lyon man additionally launched into a surprising, solo run late on, coming agonisingly near netting one in all the nice Champions League last targets.

Very similar to Semenyo, he is a match winner and a game-changer, somebody who can ship the products himself or tee up alternatives for teammates.

REUTERS/Sam Navarro

In 2024/25, as an illustration, he reached double figures for each targets and assists in Ligue 1, whereas notably netting 11 league targets final time period for the French champions.

Whereas primarily deployed on the left flank, Barcola does mirror Semenyo as a winger who can drift over to the opposite flank when wanted, together with his pleasant dink in opposition to Senegal within the World Cup having come following a burst into the suitable channel.

He is the explosive, dynamic winger that Iraola would not appear to have in his arsenal proper now, with it thrilling to foretell what the Liverpool boss can do with such an elite expertise, having already seen the likes of Semenyo blossom underneath his tutelage.