Antoine Semenyo’s pending Manchester City arrival puts Bernardo Silva’s future in doubt | OneFootball

Manchester City rarely buy without preparing to let go, and Antoine Semenyo’s arrival may be the clearest signal yet that another transition is coming.

City are now widely expected to win the race for Bournemouth’s Semenyo, with various reports on December 23 confirming that the Ghana international’s desire was to compete consistently for major honours – as such opting to join the Etihad Stadium club amid widespread interest.

Interest from Manchester United was strong, as revealed by Fabrizio Romano among others, but the opportunity to work under Pep Guardiola and remain at the summit of the Premier League ultimately swung the decision in City’s favour.

Antoine Semenyo’s pending signing is not viewed in isolation inside the Etihad Stadium, with City having long operated on the principle that every major arrival reshapes the internal hierarchy.

TEAMtalk had previously reported that his addition could push the likes of Savinho or Oscar Bobb closer to the exit door, although for now, the focus has shifted further up the seniority ladder within Guardiola’s squad.

As reported by Greame Bailey, the expected £65 million deal for the Bournemouth winger may accelerate the departure of one of Pep Guardiola’s most trusted lieutenants in club captain Bernardo Silva – and as early as the upcoming January transfer window.

Silva’s future has been under review for some time, with the original plan being for the Portugal international to consider his next move at the end of the season, with City open to a controlled transition rather than a sudden break.

However, with Silva firmly on the radar of clubs starring in the Saudi Pro League, the possibility of a January exit has become increasingly realistic.

Bernardo Silva has been a central figure in Guardiola’s Manchester City side since arriving from AS Monaco in 2017, offering tactical intelligence, technical security and a relentless work rate. Yet, even Guardiola has recently acknowledged a dip in influence.

Following Manchester City’s win over West Ham, the manager was notably frank. “Bernie is my weakness, so he’s top, but today I’m not happy with Bernie. He knows exactly what we need,” Guardiola said.

The Catalan head coach continued, “He has a special sense to compete… but that step up in certain moments is what defines him.”

Silva has yet to score a Premier League goal this season, and with Phil Foden back to his best and Rayan Cherki emerging as a long-term creative option, the club’s most senior leader is no longer among the automatic selections.

Unlike previous windows, a move to the Middle East would likely not jeopardise Bernardo Silva’s international ambitions, with Portugal’s World Cup planning not affected by a switch away from Europe.

And at 30 years of age, Silva is approaching a natural career crossroads; remain a rotational figure at Manchester City amid increasing competition or take on a new challenge while securing long-term financial stability.

From Manchester City’s perspective, Antoine Semenyo is a profile Pep Guardiola values highly: explosive, tactically flexible, and capable of operating across the front line. How he is deployed remains open, but his arrival will likely not impact the futures of Jeremy Doku or Omar Marmoush.

Alongside Semenyo’s pending arrival, there is also internal discussion about a change at centre-back, with Nathan Ake among those whose role is under review, both from the side of the player and his employers as he seeks improved game time ahead of the FIFA World Cup.