Manchester City update as two clubs emerge as ‘frontrunners’ to sign Antoine Semenyo | OneFootball

Antoine Semenyo is now likely to leave Bournemouth in the upcoming January transfer window, and Manchester City are among the frontrunners for his signature.

Momentum around the Ghana international has accelerated following a series of reports over recent weeks that placed City firmly in the conversation, with Etihad Stadium officials tracking Semenyo closely amid a push to add a winger capable of regular output from wide areas.

Pep Guardiola has been credited with driving that interest, viewing the Bournemouth forward as a different profile to existing options. City’s stance has been shaped by broader squad considerations, with an acceptance that Jeremy Doku, Savinho and Oscar Bobb – while offering distinct qualities – cannot currently consistently provide the volume of goals Guardiola previously enjoyed from wide roles.

That context has helped elevate Antoine Semenyo – powerful, direct, and Premier League-proven – into serious contention, particularly with a clearly defined release clause offering clarity to prospective buyers.

Competition remains intense, however after reports pointed to direct talks between City and Semenyo’s camp, while all of Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham and Arsenal have monitored the situation to varying degrees. United’s interest has been described as genuine but constrained by financial considerations, while Spurs have been labelled outsiders.

Now, according to the information of GIVEMESPORT’s Ben Jacobs, Manchester United and Manchester City are currently the two frontrunners to sign Antoine Semenyo – who has a £65 million release clause valid for the first part of January.

With the Ghanaian international expected to have ‘multiple’ suitors, the report states that a move for the forward away from Bournemouth this winter looking ‘likely’, although neither Liverpool nor Tottenham are currently as active as the two Manchester clubs.

Semenyo’s preference is not yet clear at this stage, it is insisted, while Bournemouth would prefer their star attacker to stay until at least summer, but the situation would be out of their control if the clause is triggered.

From the perspective of Manchester City, Etihad Stadium officials are said to be keen to add a new winger to their roster with the output of a wide forward, and a profile different to that of current options in Jeremy Doku, Savinho and Oscar Bobb.

Looking ahead, the defining factor may be timing. Manchester City traditionally favour structured, well-planned recruitment rather than reactive January spending, but the narrow window attached to Semenyo’s clause could force a quicker decision.

Manchester United, by contrast, must balance the clause against broader budgetary pressures, although the opportunity to secure a proven Premier League performer may simply be too good to turn down.

Should either club activate the release clause early in January, Bournemouth would be powerless to intervene and the focus would shift squarely to the player’s choice. With Guardiola’s backing already well-documented and City’s project defined, the coming days could prove decisive in determining whether Semenyo ends up at the Etihad or Old Trafford.