Owen tips Semenyo as ideal successor amid growing uncertainty over Salah’s Liverpool Future
Michael Owen has suggested that Antoine Semenyo would be the perfect long-term successor to Mohamed Salah if the Liverpool star chooses to move on. The ex-Liverpool forward offered a firm evaluation of the situation as uncertainty around Salah’s future continues to grow.
Tension surrounding the Egyptian intensified after last weekend’s incident, when he publicly voiced frustration over being left out of three consecutive league matches under Arne Slot. Salah admitted he felt he had been “thrown under the bus,” a remark that has reportedly strained his relationship with the new manager.
With Salah preparing to join Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations on Monday, his absence could stretch deep into the January window, prompting renewed speculation that a mid-season transfer is possible.
Speaking on Premier League Productions, Owen stressed that Liverpool must think ahead and identify a suitable replacement should their talisman depart. He highlighted Semenyo’s rapid rise at Bournemouth, pointing to his six Premier League goals this campaign and his increasingly influential performances.
“He is a brilliant player,” Owen said. “He scores goals – and we don’t know if Mohamed Salah will stay or leave but, if he leaves, Semenyo should be his replacement.”
Salah’s exclusion from Liverpool’s Champions League victory over Inter Milan on Tuesday further underlined the current friction. The 31-year-old stayed behind on Merseyside instead of travelling with the squad and is unlikely to feature against Brighton unless discussions take a positive turn.
The Telegraph reports that Slot believes Salah may eventually reconsider his recent comments, acknowledging that the emotionally charged interview might not have painted the full picture. The situation has left Liverpool supporters anxious, with many wondering whether the club is preparing for life after one of its greatest modern-day icons.
