Manchester United fear £65m price tag will rule out move for premier league star | OneFootball

Man Utd weigh up Semenyo move amid financial reality

Rising Influence Of Semenyo

Semenyo has emerged as one of the Premier League’s more intriguing wide forwards, a player whose evolution feels tailor-made for a coach seeking intelligence, discipline and direct running. His qualities are well documented. As The Athletic detail, Semenyo is “an intelligent, two-footed ball carrier with plenty of speed to burn”, a profile that immediately appeals to a manager intent on creating fluidity across the front line.

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His familiarity with United is clear, having scored against them home and away last season. There is admiration for his adaptability too. Deployed primarily on the right, he can feature either side and even fill wing-back roles thanks to his work ethic out of possession. United’s coaching staff value two-footed wide players for the rotations they create, helping to unlock deep defensive shapes. One source noted that his “pacey dribbling and much-improved shooting form would make him another excellent counter-attacking option”.

Tactical Fit Under The New Regime

In a system reliant on pace and transitions, Semenyo appears well suited. The club now recruit players with Premier League experience, upward mobility and a willingness to graft. His numbers reflect a forward refining his decision-making, taking fewer low-value shots and becoming more decisive in key moments.

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Yet the report is unambiguous: “At £65million, a January deal would be difficult.” The club committed more than £200m to attacking additions in the summer. With two senior forwards away at the Africa Cup of Nations, the temptation to act exists, but the financial reality is unavoidable.

Financial Barriers To A Deal

The Athletic add that United “held talks on Semenyo before signing Bryan Mbeumo”, but Bournemouth’s £70m valuation ended discussions. The winger’s best position overlaps directly with Mbeumo’s, creating a selection issue before negotiations even begin. United may want him, may rate him and may see him thriving inside their structure, but the fundamentals must be addressed first. Without resolving their central midfield issues, adding another wide attacker risks unbalancing the squad further.

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United like him. He fits the model. But this deal reflects where the club are tactically and financially: ambitious, but constrained.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

Semenyo offers traits supporters crave. He carries the ball at speed, presses with intent and knows where the goal is, as United fans saw first-hand in both meetings last season. In a system built around transitions, he feels like someone who could instantly raise the attack’s unpredictability.

The problem, as ever, comes down to timing and structure. Fans are acutely aware that wide areas are not the most urgent priority. Central midfield still lacks balance, control and reliability. Spending £65m on another forward when the spine continues to wobble would feel like repeating mistakes from previous eras. The Mbeumo signing complicates everything further, because Semenyo would be arriving to play second choice in his strongest position. That is hardly a sensible use of funds in a window where every pound matters under PSR pressure.

Supporters also know that January business is usually reactive, not strategic. INEOS have spoken about long-term planning, and this move would not reflect that unless a major outgoing or restructuring followed. Most fans admire Semenyo and would welcome him at the right price, but few believe this is the moment to pay top bracket fees for a position that is already well stocked.

The consensus among many supporters is simple: good player, wrong window. Fix midfield, stabilise the squad and then revisit additions like this in the summer when the finances are clearer and the squad picture more coherent.