Semenyo’s Future: Premier League Giants in Pursuit Amid Transfer Speculations

Antoine Semenyo’s recent form at Bournemouth has not gone unnoticed, drawing the attention of prestigious Premier League clubs such as Liverpool, Tottenham, Arsenal, Manchester City, and Manchester United. Chelsea also showed fleeting interest in the former Bristol City star earlier this week.

Despite the significant interest, Semenyo signed a five-year contract at the Vitality Stadium this summer, which includes a £65 million release clause. This clause can be activated starting next month until January 10th, giving Bournemouth the opportunity to find a replacement for their standout forward. Although this release clause is set to increase during the summer transfer window, interested clubs are eager to secure Semenyo in January to avoid losing him to rivals.

Manchester United reportedly presented a financial offer to acquire Semenyo. However, recent reports indicate that the Ghanaian international is leaning towards a transfer to Premier League title contenders Manchester City in January. Notably, Semenyo’s decision appears to stem from sporting considerations rather than financial ones.

Transfer expert Ben Jacobs elaborated on this reasoning via his official X account, stating, “Semenyo’s decision is based on project appeal, not money.” He further mentioned that all interested clubs had made salary offers within a similar range, adding that United was unwilling to surpass their wage structure to match those of their competitors.

There were initial suggestions that United aimed to convert Semenyo into a wing-back. However, Jacobs clarified that this was not the case, emphasizing that Manchester United viewed Semenyo primarily as a winger or attacker. He noted, “There were no plans to utilize Semenyo as a predominant wing-back, and Amorim’s system was not a factor in his decision-making process.”

Meanwhile, Liverpool had been seen as the frontrunners to sign Semenyo due to their ongoing efforts to refresh their attacking lineup. The Reds made significant investments in players like Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike, and Florian Wirtz over the summer and were reportedly ready to activate Semenyo’s release clause to bring him to Anfield. However, Jacobs stated that Liverpool decided against pursuing Semenyo after discussions in November, and Isak’s recent injury did not prompt a renewed approach.

Semenyo’s anticipated move to City could trigger a series of changes in the January transfer window, with the club likely to field offers for several fringe players. Notably, Savinho, previously a target for Tottenham, has been linked with a potential move away despite recently signing a new contract. Spurs are again reported to be interested in the young Brazilian as they seek to strengthen their left-wing options.

Additionally, Omar Marmoush, who scored for Egypt in their recent AFCON match, has also been mentioned in transfer discussions regarding a departure from the Etihad Stadium, along with young Norwegian winger Oscar Bobb, who has had limited appearances due to injury but has made five Premier League starts this season.