Arne Slot and Liverpool have been slammed for an early January transfer window decision
Fasika Zelealem Senior Sports Reporter
05:30, 31 Dec 2025
Arne Slot’s been told he’s already made a January transfer mistake(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
With the January transfer window just a day away, Liverpool have been earmarked as one team who should be entering the market. A lack of attacking options due to the absences of Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak has led to the majority of fans believing Arne Slot should be bolstering his forward line.
Injuries to Giovanni Leoni and Joe Gomez have also left the Dutchman short in defence, making the failure to get the Marc Guehi transfer over the line on deadline day even more painful. Winter additions could help strengthen the Reds’ chase of Champions League qualification in what has been an inconsistent season across the majority of the Premier League campaign thus far.
While Slot has faced criticism for his apparent verdict on one particular January transfer, a previously unhappy player of his has been linked with an exit again having already made his stance clear on a potential Anfield exit. Mirror Football takes a look at the biggest stories surrounding the reigning champions.
Transfer disappointment
With Salah on Africa Cup of Nations duty and Isak out of action with a broken leg, many assumed the Reds are set to enter the January transfer window for attacking reinforcements.
Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo has consistently been linked with a move to Anfield for the past few months, and it seemingly appears that the 25-year-old’s future is destined for north-west England – but not Merseyside.
READ MORE: Liverpool AXE key staff member after Virgil van Dijk and Arne Slot air frustrationsREAD MORE: Alan Shearer makes brutal joke off the back of Florian Wirtz’s first Liverpool goal
According to Sky Sports, the Ghana international is closing in on a £65million move to Manchester City next month, news which has angered ex-Reds star Jermaine Pennant. On talkSPORT, he said: “As a Liverpool fan, I’m really disappointed on the back of Isak getting injured, maybe out for the season.
“Salah being in AFCON and we already know the relationship with him, is he going to be leaving? So, for £65million in this day and age, a player of Antoine Semenyo’s quality, you’d say it’s kind of a bargain.”
Antoine Semenyo is reportedly close to signing for Manchester City(Image: Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)
Pennant branded Liverpool’s apparent decision not to enter the race for Semenyo “stupid” as he continued: “And for them to not be in the conversation or say, ‘We’re interested as well,’ and approach Bournemouth on the back of what I’ve mentioned, is really stupid. He could be a player who could replace Salah long-term as well.
“So when Salah does decide to leave, if it’s in January or at the end of the season, you’ve got someone who is Premier League proven, which is absolutely vital. We’ve seen players come over to this league and they can’t really cut it, but you know that he can.”
Federico Chiesa eyed
The Reds’ 2-1 win over Wolves this past weekend marked the first Premier League start at Anfield for the Italian winger. Needless to say, Chiesa hasn’t had many opportunities from Arne Slot to impress since signing for the club in the summer of 2024.
Despite Chiesa’s impeccable team spirit while rarely experiencing a match from the off, the competitiveness of the 29-year-old remains high, as illustrated by his reaction when told earlier this season he was omitted from Liverpool’s Champions League group stage phase.
He’s since been included, due to the ACL injury of Leoni, but Slot revealed that Chiesa “wasn’t happy” when informed of his initial choice to exclude him. The Italian has made no qualms about his love for Merseyside but did admit last summer that a return to former club Juventus couldn’t be ruled out.
Federico Chiesa refused to rule out a return to Juventus(Image: Ed Sykes/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
“Never say never,” Chiesa told Italian news outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport. “I still love the club and the fans.” Chiesa has now been linked once again with a return to Turin next month with opportunities at Anfield scarce. A report in Italian news outlet Gazzetta dello Sport has claimed he is among a raft of targets being assessed.
It was last year when he revealed to Corriere dello Sport that he had wanted to remain in Turin but was forced out by then-manager Thiago Motta. “Motta was clear with me: I don’t need you, find a team,” he explained.
“I told him I was ready to fight, to put myself to the test because I wanted to stay and show that I was still useful to Juventus. But there was nothing I could do. It’s okay, it was his choice.”
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