Manchester City receive significant boost in Antoine Semenyo interest – Player rules out Premier League rival | OneFootball

Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo appears to have already made a decision among the clubs showing interest in signing his services in 2026.

As Manchester City continue to survey the forward market, Semenyo has remained a name firmly on the radar. Earlier reports have highlighted Bournemouth’s firm stance on keeping the Ghanaian until at least the end of the campaign, unless his release clause is activated. While the Cherries are resigned to an eventual exit, the player’s own intentions appear clear.

That clarity represents a potentially notable development for City, who have been monitoring right-sided attacking profiles despite their summer acquisition of Rayan Cherki. Internal plans suggest sporting director Hugo Viana is continuing to position himself for opportunities that may arise in 2026 rather than actively pushing for mid-season movement.

Semenyo’s spike in productivity at the Vitality Stadium and the structure of his contract have therefore been watched particularly closely. Moreover, Bournemouth’s preference to retain Semenyo for the season or even arrange a pre-contract for a post-2026 World Cup move continues to shape the landscape.

With replacement options limited and no immediate successor lined up for Andoni Iraola, officials at the Cherries and their internal expectation remains a quiet January window unless a club forces their hand via release clause.

Now, according to the information of The Sun’s Tom Barclay, Tottenham are also showing major interest in Bournemouth’s in-demand attacking talent Semenyo, but face an uphill battle to persuade the player himself.

It is claimed that the 25-year-old would be ‘hesitant’ to join Thomas Frank’s squad, having ended up signing a new contract in the summer when Spurs first showed an interest in the player.

In a boost to Manchester City’s hopes however, the report claims that Semenyo would be ‘far more tempted’ should an offer arrive from either the Etihad Stadium, Liverpool, or Spurs’ North London rivals, Arsenal.

With that being said, the report also quotes sources who have not ruled out the possibility that the Ghana international stays at the Vitality Stadium for the rest of the season and moves in the summer.

With Semenyo reportedly uninterested in Spurs despite persistent admiration, Manchester City may find themselves in a stronger position than initially anticipated as they retain long-term squad evolution under consideration, particularly with uncertainty surrounding several attacking futures.

However, Bournemouth’s contractual framework – featuring a release clause that drops from £65 million in January 2026 by £5 million in the summer – means City may be inclined to wait and strike when the financial conditions better suit their strategy.

Their previous lack of urgency, as reflected in similar long-term monitoring of targets, aligns with the idea of a 2026-timed move rather than an immediate offensive. For now, everything points towards a transfer race that could ignite closer to the end of the season.