Exclusive: Sky Sports pundit reacts to 'massive' potential Bristol City transfer boost - it involves Antoine Semenyo | OneFootball

Sky Sports pundit Lee Hendrie spoke exclusively to Football League World about Bristol City's cash windfall if Antoine Semenyo leaves AFC Bournemouth

Bristol City could be poised to receive a major cash windfall once the January transfer window rolls around, with the Robins set to benefit financially through Antoine Semenyo's potential exit from AFC Bournemouth.

The London-born forward rose through the ranks at Ashton Gate and made 112 appearances before leaving for Bournemouth in January 2023, having established himself as a standout operator at Championship level. Following loan spells with the likes of Newport County and Sunderland, Semenyo forced his way into the Robins' first-team frame and enjoyed a breakthrough 2021/22 campaign, returning eight goals and 12 assists from just 31 second-tier appearances.

Semenyo had already matched that tally for goals across all competitions by the time Bournemouth came calling, and the Cherries promptly secured his services in a reported £10 million deal. Since moving to the south coast, however, Semenyo has gone from strength to strength, and even the 32-cap Ghanaian international's most ardent backers at City may not have anticipated his rise into one of the most sought-after forwards in the Premier League.

The Robins academy product has transformed into a star since Andoni Iraola's appointment in the summer of 2023. He struck on eight occasions during the 2023/24 campaign before eclipsing that tally with a return of 11 goals and a further five assists in league action last time out, which has placed a number of top-flight heavyweights on red alert.

Following an electrifying start to the current campaign, in which Semenyo has provided six goals and three assists from eleven matches for the ninth-placed outfits, recent reports have linked the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham to his services.

As per The Athletic, Semenyo's £65 million release clause can be activated as early as January, and it has emerged that the Robins included a 20 percent sell-on clause in the deal which took him to Bournemouth.

This would mean that, should Semenyo's release clause be triggered, a cash windfall of no less than £11 million would be making its way to Ashton Gate, offering an undoubted boost for all connected with Bristol City.

Now under the tutelage of ex-Barnsley boss Gerhard Struber, the Robins find themselves in eighth position and are targeting a second successive top-six finish after making it into the top-six under Liam Manning last term — and an eight-figure payday in January could help to further fuel City's promotion ambitions.

Lee Hendrie reacts to big potential Bristol City, Antoine Semenyo payday - 'it's massive'

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Sky Sports pundit and former Aston Villa stalwart Lee Hendrie offered his reaction to Bristol City's potential cash injection following the turn of the year.

Hendrie believes that this news could be 'massive' for the top-six-chasing Robins, and can offer a real boost after last season's success. In Hendrie's view, it would be 'brilliant' for the Robins to try and utilise any money brought in from Semenyo's potential big-money move to a Premier League giant in January, and the Ashton Gate faithful will surely be hoping that proves to be the case.

"I think it's massive for Bristol City," Hendrie explained to FLW.

"I think [it is] for any clubs that have a sell-on to players that they brought into the football club, this is the good thing about the EFL and the Championship. We're seeing a hell of a lot of players move on and learn their trade, and that speaks volumes to how good the Championship is.

"But it's so good for Bristol City. Money-wise, it's massively important and certainly can boost them after having such a good season last season. They started really well [this season], dropped off it a little bit now, but when you get money that's been added on you can invest that to bring other players in.

"It's so positive for Bristol City and it will be brilliant for them to maybe utilise that money in January."

Bristol City need to bolster in January to compete for promotion

As Hendrie alluded to, Bristol City have endured a recent slump in form after making an impressive start to the season under Struber. The Robins lost two of their three encounters prior to the November international break, including a bruising 5-1 rout at the hands of Stoke City, and perhaps require an injection of cash and quality in order to compete for another top-six finish.

Dynamic duo Anis Mehmeti and Scott Twine have been crucial to date, with the attacking pair directly accounting for 16 of City's 22 league goals.

However, it would be unsustainable to expect Mehmeti and Twine to assume the attacking burden in its entirety for the season's full duration — further support and reinforcements are needed, and the lack of goalscoring threat away from Struber's starring double-act should force the Robins into action once we hit January.

An £11 million windfall would be most welcomed, and while it would be difficult to see all of that being reinvested into the transfer market, it could just loosen the financial purse-strings and create scope for a number of additions to come in and supplement fresh firepower to spur Struber's side onto promotion contention.