TL:DR
- Antoine Semenyo favours a move to Manchester City, despite concerns from his inner circle about potential limited playing time.
- The Bournemouth forward has scored 9 goals this season, third in the Premier League behind Haaland and Thiago.
- Semenyo has a £65 million release clause active for the first two weeks of January, attracting interest from City, United, Liverpool, and Chelsea.
- Bournemouth’s manager, Andoni Iraola, wishes to retain Semenyo, highlighting his importance to the team.
Antoine Semenyo’s people fear he’s making transfer ‘mistake’ amid Chelsea, Man Utd and Man City links
Antoine Semenyo has reportedly picked out Manchester City as his preferred club if he leaves Bournemouth – but there are people in the forward’s inner circle who believe he could be making a big ‘mistake’.
Semenyo has been in outstanding form for Bournemouth this season, causing defenders nightmares up and down the country with his pace, power, physicality and ability in front of goal.
Only Manchester City’s Erling Haaland (19) and Brentford’s Igor Thiago (11) have outscored Semenyo (9) 16 games into the Premier League season. The 24-year-old attacker has also chipped in with three assists for Andoni Iraola’s Cherries.
There is mounting speculation that Semenyo could soon be lured away from the Vitality Stadium, though, with the elite of English football queuing up to sign the versatile Ghana international.
Antoine Semenyo is attracting strong interest from the Premier League’s elite
It’s been well documented that Semenyo has a £65million release clause in his contract at Bournemouth, which is valid for the first two weeks of January, and Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea are all eyeing a potential deal.
It’s understood City, United and Liverpool have all made phone calls to gain a better understanding of the situation ahead of a possible bidding war when the January transfer window opens for business.
City are believed to be in pole position to sign Semenyo at this stage, with the former Bristol City and Sunderland man favouring a switch to the Etihad this winter.
However, according to The i, sources close to Semenyo fear he would perhaps be making a ‘mistake’ by joining City considering he would not necessarily be a guaranteed starter under Pep Guardiola.
Though a deal is yet to be agreed, City are said to be confident that they have seen off their competition and won the race for Bournemouth’s star man.
Semenyo’s current contract with Bournemouth runs through to June 2030.
Semenyo’s excellent form in front of goal has continued despite Bournemouth’s drastic dip in results over the winter period.
At the weekend, the Ghanaian found the net for a third game in succession as the Cherries slumped to a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Brentford.
‘With Antoine, my situation is quite clear,’ Bournemouth boss Iraola told reporters when asked about Semenyo’s future following the loss.
‘Antoine is a massive player for us. Even in games like today where probably hasn’t played well, he’s always a threat to score, to assist.
‘He creates great goal scoring opportunities and also adds a lot of physicality to our game and obviously I don’t want to lose him. This is quite clear.’
‘But there are some situations that are not under my control and he will be ready to play against [Chelsea] in three days and in the next one. And I hope he plays a lot more with us.’
Asked if he would prefer to have a transfer fee for Semenyo as early as possible, Iraola replied: ‘No, the more games Antoine can play for us, if he can play years with us, much better!
‘If he cannot be years, months, if he can play more weeks, weeks. The more time he plays with us, the better for us.’