Revealed: Antoine Semenyo’s Manchester City contract details and salary package | OneFootball

Manchester City are set to hand Antoine Semenyo a five-year contract at the Etihad Stadium, a new report has revealed.

Semenyo has decided to join forces with Pep Guardiola in the north-west to fulfil his ambitions of winning major trophies as he enters the prime of his career, having already established himself as one of the Premier League’s deadliest forwards in recent seasons on the south coast.

The 25-year-old was identified as a potent addition to Manchester City’s frontline by Guardiola, who has personally driven the Blues’ pursuit of Semenyo, who also attracted interest from Manchester United, Tottenham, Chelsea and Liverpool.

City require reinforcements in attack as they fight Premier League leaders Arsenal tooth and nail for what could be a fifth league crown in six seasons for the Blues, having qualified for the Carabao Cup semi-final and taken a giant step towards the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 stage earlier this month by beating Real Madrid on their own patch.

Manchester City have been overly reliant on Erling Haaland to provide the goods in front of goal this season, with attacking output drying up from the likes of Savinho and Omar Marmoush, though Jeremy Doku was in fine form before sustaining an injury earlier this month.

City need inspiration in attack to sustain their charge for silverware on multiple fronts as they enter the second half of the season, with the Blues close to an agreement with Bournemouth for Semenyo after extensive club-to-club talks this week.

Executives at the Etihad Stadium are also believed to have met Semenyo’s representatives in Manchester in recent days, with a deal close to completion as City pick up in the January market right where they left off in the summer.

Upon his appointment as Manchester City’s director of football in the summer, Hugo Viana made seven new signings as he conducted a thorough audit of Guardiola’s first-team ranks to arm the Catalan with fresh, young blood to challenge for major trophies in the seasons to come.

According to the information of Guardian Sport’s Jacob Steinberg and Jamie Jackson, Bournemouth now expect Semenyo’s transfer to Manchester City to be finalised this week.

It is revealed that the forward’s release clause is worth slightly less than £65 million, including loyalty money and agent fees, with City wanting to pay the figure over three years and Bournemouth believing that an agreement will be sealed as soon as New Year’s Day.

As for Semenyo’s personal terms, they are now believed to be in place, with the 25-year-old set to earn a basic salary of about £150,000 a week at the Etihad Stadium – plus incentives across a five-year contract.

Semenyo appeared to bid an emotional farewell to the travelling supporters at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday evening shortly after the south coast outfit held Chelsea to a 2-2 draw, though Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has stated that he expects to have the Ghana international available against Arsenal this weekend.