09 Jan 2026 09:49:08
Hi Ed's,
Can you tell us what happened in regards to semenyo going to Man City when it looked like he would have joined Liverpool.
Do we have other targets in mind? Was the fee an issue?
{Ed025's Note - he obviously got a better offer from City Aimar..
09 Jan 2026 10:09:09
Did we even bid for Semenyo?
I'm sure I read that City were the only club to contact Bournemouth about his release clause.
09 Jan 2026 10:30:26
Generally it's disappointing we were not in the mix as he's someone who could have nicked a goal last night. But at this point I'd be signing for City too personally.
09 Jan 2026 10:56:50
Natural successor of salah right there. Obviously don't want to give slot any more money.
09 Jan 2026 11:31:20
I really wanted us to sign Semenyo, but he's not the only good winger in the world, or even in the Premier League.
Looking around the Premier League in particular, as I don't really watch much European football anymore, you have Harry Wilson (RW), Kevin Schade (LW), Jarrod Bowen (RW) and Morgan Rogers (LW) all of whom I'd be interested in.
Wilson (28) and Bowen (29) are possibly not the right age profile for us but they are good potential short term replacements for Salah, who you'd get 2 or 3 good seasons out of. Bowen might even be available on the cheap in the summer if West Ham go down.
Schade (24) and Rogers (23) definitely are the age profile we look at usually. Schade actually looks very similar to Semenyo, but maybe a year or two behind in terms of his development. Rogers is an excellent player though who arguably even has a higher ceiling than Semenyo, but it would cost £100m minimum to get him our of Aston Villa.
I'm sure there are also a lot of other wingers around Europe that would be interested in a move to Liverpool. It is a shame though as Mbuemo and Semenyo were my two favourite wingers in the Premier League and they've both gone to Manchester! Losing out on Semenyo doesn't need to be the end of the world, either way.
09 Jan 2026 11:35:28
From what I recall, Slot has no say on the players we get since he's the head coach and not manager. So this is on Hughes that we didn't get Semenyo. I don't think we were even in for him tbh.
09 Jan 2026 11:38:24
Didn't think it was slot that had all the say on transfers?
09 Jan 2026 11:43:47
Obviously - it's the only explanation.
09 Jan 2026 11:49:23
We didn't need Semenyo. We need a 6 and cover at centre half. Salah is irreplaceable which is why we bought Frimpong. I expect no business in this window unless Barcola becomes available and or Wharton/ Anderson.
09 Jan 2026 12:08:03
You think we are hoping to get Bowen on the cheap if West Ham go down?
09 Jan 2026 12:35:52
MK do you honestly think Bowens father in law would let him leave ??.
09 Jan 2026 12:39:50
Dont get the whole"if i was him i'd sign for City too"statements. I get that their a great club but so are we. Both are going to lose out on the league and have to settle for top 4 and if anything i'd say City are more likely to have managerial disruption sooner than we are.
09 Jan 2026 13:05:29
Semenyo would have been an effective signing for sure.
Difficult to know what is happening at the club right now.
Did Slot push back on another Hughes favourite coming in?
Does Slot want something else in terms of profile? Perhaps a winger that is better at passing and assisting to compliment our no9s?
Maybe Edwards or someone else felt that Hughes going back to Bournemouth again was not a good look?
Or maybe Edwards, Hughes and Slot are all annoyed with each other and recruitment is the last thing on their minds!
Or perhaps they someone better lined up?
Impossible to know!
09 Jan 2026 12:54:02
Let common sense prevail here. We need a CB in asap and if we don't sign Guehi this month after how close we were, it will be a dereliction of duty.
Any Ed's have a thought on this? Thanks.
{Ed025's Note - its all down to Guehi HH, he has a plethora of suitors but my feeling is that he will wait until summer before he decides on his destination, financially it makes sense and i still think Liverpool are in the mix mate..
09 Jan 2026 13:36:49
Although there may be other wingers out there, I can't think of one with his pace, acceleration, physicality, ability to carry the ball, ability to bully full backs work ethic and end product. Certainly none of Harry Wilson, Kevin Schade, Jarrod Bowen or Morgan Rogers have all of those qualities.
And I would hope we don't look at Bowen or Wilson because of their age and I'd hope we start clear of the likes of Rodrygo as he's just another ten a penny lightweight Brazilian winger like Antony.
09 Jan 2026 14:11:27
Reusch68, I think Bowen might have to get a good divorce lawyer if he leaves West Ham to be fair! Maybe that could be part of the deal!
09 Jan 2026 14:35:31
Harry Wilson and schade score goals but I'm not sure they do a whole lot else. Wilson wasn't deemed good enough for us in the first place.
09 Jan 2026 15:13:20
Ed025, thanks for your feedback on that question. Now we have Bradley injured it should be this month mate.
{Ed025's Note - there is still time HH and i think you are desperate for a defender mate at least, who is anyones guess mate..
09 Jan 2026 15:38:45
Maybe we'll step up our interest in Givairo Read.
09 Jan 2026 15:40:52
There is a lot of brilliant wingers available in the summer though. Is Semenyo for £65m sensible right now when Olise, Yan Diomande, and Barcola are available in the summer for a little bit more, and are better, younger players who will have resale value.
If we were fighting neck and neck for the league I'd argue it might be worth it but Semenyo just won't drastically change our season. If we do desperately want an attacker now then I'd be happy with a £20-£40m signing who would replace Chiesa but actually get played.
09 Jan 2026 16:24:30
im not worried we probably want Oilse instread
I rather we just focus on first team CB's that can cover VVD and Konate or start instead of them, add a Defensive Midfielder that can replace GravenBerch, but we move on Mcallister.
09 Jan 2026 16:25:43
You could say Diomande and Barcola have higher upside but are they really better players than Semenyo? In Diomande's case I would 100% say no, he is also going to cost way more than Semenyo and you're paying for potential rather than readymade quality. Yes he has huge potential but it's also a gamble considering he's just starting his ascent in European football.
Olise is a top class player but would also probably command 100 million. Semenyo's advantage is he is prem proven, has improved every year, is two footed and can play any forward position, presses well, is physical and works hard. My only suspicion as to why we didn't go for him is we see no present use for adding a conventional winger right now.
09 Jan 2026 17:15:44
Semenyo like Kerkez will be facing an entirely different opposition formation then at bournemouth and like Kerkez who was charging down the line and overlapping last season for Bournemouth Semenyo will be coming up against a low block at City.
Maybe why traditional wingers are not having much joy in the low block, long throw, set piece set up making games pretty boring on the eye and us finding it hard to break down, as always in football, where high intensity high press heavy mental football, countered the possession based tiki taki football, and now the low block set piece long throw football is countering the heavy metal style, maybe the style that will counter the low block is next and traditional wingers are not part of it,
09 Jan 2026 17:18:53
Semenyo before you go to city take something with you for the splinters in your arse after sitting on the bench after your first few games ask Doku!
09 Jan 2026 18:18:38
That's the worst list of alternatives I've seen on here, if you weren't depressed before, that list will definitely do it. Barcola is technically good, but another physically weak midfielder is exactly what we don't need. Morgan Roger's is distinctly average, he's just having a purple patch. He was being absolutely slated prior to their run.
Reality is there aren't any winger types who instantly come into mind when thinking about alternatives. Semenyo would have been an absolute perfect fit for us. If he's allowed consistent games at city, he will easily become a consistent first 11.
Olise is decent but he's another who has no real fight in him, he plays well when the team does. We need characters who can take the game by the scruff of the neck, Szobo is the only one currently who has any real fight in him.
09 Jan 2026 18:29:21
Im with Viktor on this one. Semenyo wasnt just a winger. He has a lot of what we are missing in his locker. Rodgers and Olise are the only ones id want over Semenyo tbh and both would requore Isak level chasing/ drama/ money.
09 Jan 2026 23:36:25
Florian because they're in a more assured position on and off the pitch. Our identity is non existent currently so I'd be sceptical.