Bristol City fired Antoine Semenyo windfall warning - Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool deals deemed unlikely | OneFootball

Bristol City have a 20 per cent sell-on clause for Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo

Football finance expert Stefan Borson has indicated that Bristol City may need to wait until the summer to receive a potential £11 million windfall from the sale of Antoine Semenyo.

It was reported earlier this month by The Athletic that the in-form forward has a release clause worth £65 million amid interest from the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur.

It has since been claimed that the Robins hold a sell-on clause that will entitle the Championship side to 20 percent of the profit of any sale by Bournemouth for the winger.

Semenyo made the switch to the Cherries in the 2023 January transfer window in a £10 million deal, so a £65 million departure would net Bristol City a figure of £11 million.

The 25-year-old has so far contributed six goals and three assists from 11 appearances in the Premier League this season.

Bristol City could be waiting for Antoine Semenyo windfall

Borson believes that a summer sale is more likely for Semenyo due to the size of the release clause in his Bournemouth contract.

He’s listed the small number of clubs who could potentially afford a deal of that magnitude, claiming that most of them are unlikely to want to prioritise a player like Semenyo at this stage of the season.

“It seems to me that there should be interest, but £65 million is not so cheap that you’re going to definitely abandon all of your more formal plans for signings,” said Borson, via Football Insider.

“You can go through the list in the Premier League of the top spenders and say, are they likely to be in at that price or not? There are not many teams that can pay £65 million for any player.

“Right now, we know who those are.

“Of the long list in terms of not whether they will but could they theoretically, Arsenal you would think probably not.

“They can afford it, but probably would not move.

“City could afford it, probably wouldn’t move. It feels unlikely. Liverpool are the same.

“Manchester United are the same and have priorities elsewhere.

“Chelsea, I doubt they’d move.

“Newcastle are a maybe, but it’s not a priority position.

“Following the [Alexander] Isak sale, they would have the capacity, probably, to do it if they wanted to.”

However, Borson has suggested that Spurs could make an opportunistic January move, even though a summer approach is most likely at this stage.

“Tottenham, if they want to make a bit of a splash, they have probably got some budget left over,” he continued.

“It feels quite a Tottenham-type signing.

“Again, I’m not sure it fits particularly in terms of priority, but he’s obviously a top player and available at a capped fee for now.

“So, opportunistically it might be something that they would do.

“But equally, I could see it going to the summer.”

Semenyo came through the Bristol City academy system before cementing himself as a key figure for the club.

His impressive form in the Championship led to his move to the Cherries almost three years ago.

Since then, he has contributed 26 goals and 10 assists from 92 appearances in the Premier League, with Andoni Iraola’s side now eighth in the table.

Meanwhile, Bristol City are in the mix for a play-off place under Gerhard Struber.

January windfall from Antoine Semenyo could be massive for Bristol City

Bristol City will welcome an £11 million windfall whenever it comes, if Semenyo is sold for his release clause.

However, the impact of a January move could be massive for Struber’s side, as that could help fund one or two signings that make a difference in their promotion push this season.

Semenyo is enjoying a great first half of the season, so if he can continue to find the back of the net this consistently, then perhaps it could convince one of these clubs to rip up their plans to pursue a move for the Ghana international in January, although his current injury issue has halted his momentum.

The insertion of this clause into the deal with Bournemouth could prove a very shrewd piece of business for the Robins, even if they have to wait until the summer for it to bear fruit.