Antoine Semenyo Drops Major Transfer Hint As Top Clubs Battle for His Signature
Antoine Semenyo is reportedly favoring a move to Manchester City as the January transfer window approaches at the end of next week, according to fresh reports.
City are one of several top Premier League sides showing interest in the Bournemouth forward, who has netted eight goals and provided three assists across 16 league matches this campaign.
Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea have all been monitoring Semenyo recently following his impressive form over the past 18 months since the beginning of the 2024-25 season. Tottenham Hotspur represent a fifth potential destination, though reports suggest the player has already declined their approach.
Semenyo possesses a £65 million ($87.7 million) buyout clause in his Bournemouth deal signed just last July, essentially creating a pathway for his departure from the coastal club, who remain safeguarded by securing a substantial fixed fee for any potential transfer.
This makes the Ghana international an appealing target for the January window, drawing Manchester United's attention due to the uncommon chance to acquire a Premier League-tested attacker without spending close to nine-figure sums. Chelsea seek to enhance their scoring output, while Liverpool must identify a long-term successor to Mohamed Salah, irrespective of how his immediate future unfolds.
The Athletic reports that Semenyo holds a "preference", and that's Manchester City. No official agreement exists currently, but the cited reason is the player's ambition to secure silverware.
A complementary report from BBC Sport has also indicated that all clubs contacting Semenyo's representatives are willing to provide comparable wage packages. Given this financial balance, his choice will ultimately depend on the most appealing sporting vision.
Manchester United, apparently, won't spend time pursuing players not "enthusiastic about joining"—Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo were both reportedly very interested in Old Trafford during the summer window. Chelsea, it has now emerged, have already withdrawn after making their preliminary inquiry.
Man City's Overreliance on Erling Haaland Driving Semenyo Pursuit
Manchester City currently lead the Premier League in scoring this season, finding the net 41 times through their first 17 matches. However, Erling Haaland's 19 goals represent a concerning 46% of that total, exposing a risky dependence on one individual, which Pep Guardiola has acknowledged.
Phil Foden has contributed seven Premier League goals, while midfielder Tijjani Reijnders remains the only other City player to score more than twice in league competition.
While wide players like Rayan Cherki and Jérémy Doku excel in playmaking and assists—combining for 10 in the league, Semenyo operates more as a goal-scoring wide player.
Omar Marmoush, acquired last January for £59 million, hasn't featured in a Premier League starting lineup since returning from a short injury spell that stretched from September into October. He remains without a league goal this season, as do Savinho and Oscar Bobb.