Antoine Semenyo: Bournemouth star favours move to Manchester City | OneFootball

Manchester United will have to look elsewhere to bolster their attack in the winter transfer window.

United’s attack is stretched thin due to injuries and Africa Cup of Nations departures. Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo will be playing for Cameroon and the Ivory Coast respectively during the winter tournament. 

Meanwhile, Bruno Fernandes, who remains the side’s most effective player in the final third, is unavailable due to a soft tissue injury.

Further, Joshua Zirkzee is considering leaving United amid growing interest from AS Roma and Benjamin Sesko is yet to find his feet in the Premier League. 

Manchester United targeted Antoine Semenyo

United pushed to sign Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth in January.

Semenyo, who has eight goals to his name in the Premier League this season, emerged as an attractive market opportunity due to a release clause worth £65m. The explosive winger is capable of playing on either flank and up top.

Accordingly, nearly every major Premier League side explored the possibility of signing the Ghana international, who has now picked his preferred destination.

As per The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Semenyo’s preference is to move to Manchester City in January.

Semenyo aiming to win trophies with Man City

There were question marks over Semenyo’s potential role at United due to Amorim’s 3-4-3 formation.

However, Ornstein claims that Semenyo’s decision was “not due to Ruben Amorim’s system, with United never planning to play Semenyo at wing-back.”

The Bournemouth talisman’s “desire to win trophies is key to his wish to join Pep Guardiola’s side.”

United reportedly “tried their best” to sign the 25-year-old, but a move next month was “always going to be a stretch and the club only wished to bring in players who are eager to join.”

Matheus Cunha, Mbeumo, and Sesko all rejected Champions League football in favour of a move to Old Trafford last summer. However, their arrivals have failed to spark an upturn in fortunes under Amorim. 

Journalist Sam Cohen reveals that INEOS were “unwilling to distort their wage structure” to get the deal for Semenyo over the line. 

Featured image Stu Forster via Getty Images

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