Forget Semenyo: Numbers tell Richard Hughes that £70m chance creation master is who Liverpool must sign

Liverpool don’t seem to get past their top targets during the summer transfer window, even if it took until deadline day to seal what looked like a done deal before it even opened.

The record-breaking signing of Alexander Isak sent shockwaves around European football after one of the continent’s brightest striker talents in Hugo Ekitike arrived for £85m a few weeks earlier. Add Florian Wirtz costing £116m, and the Reds were clearly heading in a new direction under Arne Slot after winning the Premier League title.

The plan was a sound one given how productive the three new players had been at their previous clubs with the succession plan to compensate for the eventual phasing out of Mohamed Salah ticking a lot of boxes.

Liverpool consider Ndiaye and Semenyo

After last season when Salah looked better than ever and was one of the players of the season across Europe, it looked like a contract extension was a no-brainer and that any decline was going to be a couple of seasons away. Instead, the Egyptian King isn’t getting into as many goalscoring positions or creating as many chances for others in what has been an alarming sight. There have been justifiable calls for him to be dropped and the African Cup of Nations will no longer be a nightmare with Arne Slot finding a solution to his absence.

Florian Wirtz has played his best football since signing for Liverpool on the left but Cody Gakpo has more goals and assists than any other forward. Moving the Netherlands international makes a lot of sense if Slot isn’t going to play Ekitike and Isak together with Wirtz behind them.

There is another solution in January and for the long-term with a move for Antoine Semenyo reported whilst Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye has also been linked in what would be a controversial move. As one of David Moyes’ best players so far this season, the last thing he would want is to lose such a key individual, never mind selling him to Liverpool.

Who should Liverpool sign?

It is easy to see why Richard Hughes might be considering both players with a similar transfer value not the only thing they have in common.

The £65m release clause for Semenyo is well reported with Ndiaye said to be valued at £70m by Everton. The major difference being that Everton don’t want or need to sell whereas Bournemouth know that Semenyo’s time on the south coast is coming to an end.

On the pitch, it is easy to see how both names have emerged on a shortlist to replace Salah. In terms of ball carrying, dribbling, assists and non-penalty expected goals and assists, there isn’t much to split the 25-year old wingers, per Data MB.

Semenyo has a couple more goals but Ndiaye is a considerably more accurate crosser of the ball and provides more key passes. Ndiaye doesn’t just get on the end of chances or passes, he is heavily involved in chance creation.

Semenyo might be the player getting the headlines, but it is Ndiaye who Liverpool should target.