Manchester City defender offered in player-plus-cash deal for Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo | OneFootball

The latest claims surrounding Manchester City’s pursuit of Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo has seen an Etihad Stadium star placed in a reported player-plus-cash offer.

Semenyo has indicated a preference to move to join forces with Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium to compete for major trophies, having established himself as one of the Premier League’s best attackers in recent seasons on the south coast.

The 25-year-old attracted interest from each of Manchester United, Tottenham, Chelsea and Liverpool as his representatives invited approaches to move clubs in January, though it now appears Manchester City have won the race to sign the Ghana international.

City are locked in a close title race with Premier League leaders Arsenal and despite being in an embryonic stage of their transition under director of football Hugo Viana, the Blues are fighting on all fronts as they look to improve upon a trophyless 2024-25 season under the stewardship of the Portuguese executive.

With Guardiola committing to honouring his current Manchester City contract – running till 2027 – in the backdrop of a recent media speculation over his future in the north-west – the Blues have gone ahead and plugged a key loophole in the Catalan’s squad by pipping their domestic rivals to Semenyo’s go-ahead this week.

Chelsea’s project under former Manchester City academy and first-team assistant coach Enzo Maresca was reportedly not of interest to the Bournemouth forward, who has a wide list of options to choose from as he mulled over his future.

Liverpool are also understood to have made enquiries for the winger after British record signing Aleksandar Isak suffered a major leg injury in the Reds’ 2-1 victory over Tottenham in north London at the weekend.

Manchester City desperately need reinforcements in attack to sustain their aspirations for silverware this term and Semenyo will offer a unique attacking threat that the Blues have not enjoyed from the likes of Savinho and Omar Marmoush this term.

Semenyo is widely believed to have a £65 million release clause in his Bournemouth contract – a clause that reports in recent days suggest can only be activated before January 10 – as Manchester City look to submit a formal offer to the Cherries for their star forward.

However, according to the information of IndyKaila on X, Manchester City have now offered Netherlands international central defender and former Vitality Stadium star Nathan Ake to Bournemouth while negotiating payment terms for Semenyo. However, it remains to be seen whether the Cherries will be open to a package deal.

Ake faces an uncertain future at the Etihad Stadium, with Dutch manager Ronald Koeman giving the 30-year-old an ultimatum to improve his minutes at club level to stake a claim for playing time at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Having made just one Premier League start for Manchester City – in a 2-0 win over Everton in October – since February, Ake is weighing up a mid-season exit from the Etihad Stadium, where he is contracted until the end of the 2026-27 season.