Transfer Notebook: Man City could wreck Liverpool’s Semenyo plan, Ireland hero back to Premier League, Everton to tie down star

Manchester City could yet have a big say in the future of Liverpool target Antoine Semenyo.

This notebook exclusively revealed the bumper new five-year contract Semenyo signed last summer contains a release clause.

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It is now known the clause, in the region of £60million, becomes active for the first half of the January transfer window.

Liverpool have an interest in Semenyo, who has six goals for Bournemouth this season, and sources close to the Ghanaian suggest he is open to joining the Premier League champions.

However, City boss Pep Guardiola is also a big admirer of the 25-year-old having described him as ‘an extraordinary player’ ahead of Bournemouth’s trip to the Etihad earlier this month.

Guardiola is also said to be concerned about the lack of goal-scoring midfielder in his squad and the over-reliance on Erling Haaland, opening the door for a potential Semenyo swoop.

Haaland is the club’s top goalscorer this season with 19 in all competitions. Phil Foden is next on the list with four, while Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki both have three.

Toffees keen to tie down in-demand star

Everton are stepping up contract talks with in-form James Garner.

The cultured midfielder, 24, played a starring role in the ten-man Toffees shock win at old club Manchester United on Monday.

With his current deal due to expire at the end of the season clubs including United, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa are keeping tabs on the situation.

But, sources have told talkSPORT Everton boss David Moyes has made it clear he does not want to lose Garner.

Everton have already tied down the futures of England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and centre-back duo James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite, with Garner next on the agenda.

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Ireland goal hero Parrott back to Prem?

Wolves and Leeds are among the clubs to bring Republic of Ireland hero Troy Parrott back to the Premier League.

Parrott’s stock is high after scoring five goals in two games, including a hat-trick against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal, to fire Ireland to a World Cup play-off place.

Wolves were interested in Parrott last summer but baulked at AZ Alkmaar’s £20m-plus asking price.

New boss Rob Edwards is affiliated to the same agency as the ex-Tottenham youngster, while Leeds also have Parrott high on their list of striker targets.

Stevie G willing to wait

Steven Gerrard is unlikely to take a manager’s job in England until at least April, talkSPORT understands.

Gerrard was said to be a potential target to replace Wolves-bound Rob Edwards at Middlesbrough before they appointed Swede Kim Hellberg.

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The ex-Al-Ettifaq boss was also close to re-joining Rangers in the wake of Russell Martin’s sacking before a last minute U-turn.

Sources with knowledge of the tax situation in Saudi Arabia say Gerrard would have to repay as much as 45 per cent of his earnings if he returned to the UK permanently before the spring.

It is a similar situation for the Liverpool’s icon’s former assistant Michael Beale, who has held talks with Swedish sides AIK and Malmo.