Liverpool and Manchester City agree personal terms with Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo | OneFootball

Manchester City’s hopes of signing Antoine Semenyo in 2026 seemingly now lie firmly in the hands of the player himself, a new report has detailed.

The latest development arrives after several weeks of increasingly competitive positioning around the Bournemouth forward, with City and Liverpool emerging as the two most advanced contenders.

Earlier reporting indicated Semenyo had already shown a clear preference over potential Premier League destinations, with one suggestion being that he had already ruled out a move to Tottenham. With Bournemouth’s stance being a preference for either a late-season sale or a post-World Cup pre-contract, the situation has now escalated into a direct battle.

Manchester City’s long-term monitoring of right-sided attacking profiles continues to shape their approach despite investment in Rayan Cherki in the summer and broader uncertainty across the squad heading into 2026.

City have maintained Semenyo on a shortlist of players suited to evolving tactical needs and the multi-stage release-clause structure in his deal – beginning at £65 million in January before dropping by the summer – remains a major factor in the timing of any approach.

At Bournemouth’s end, the Cherries do not expect to do major business in the winter and remain resigned to losing Semenyo only if a club triggers his release clause.

Now however, according to the information of CaughtOffside’s Indy Kaila, Liverpool have agreed personal terms with Antoine Semenyo over a move in January, whilst also matching Manchester City’s offer to the in-demand Bournemouth forward.

It is claimed that Semenyo had already agreed terms with City, but those at Anfield have now matched their offer to the player, now leaving it down to the personal preference of the Ghanian international.

While both clubs are advancing in their interest and the player seems destined to switch at some stage in 2026, it remains required that any interested party would have to meet Semenyo’s £65 million release clause during the upcoming winter transfer window.

The report also points out that despite the two offers and agreements on terms, Antoine Semenyo is yet to make a final decision on his future, and will not rush into any decision.

This latest twist places the power firmly in Semenyo’s hands and could prolong the saga into the final stretch of the season. Manchester City may take confidence from prior reporting suggesting the player is tempted by their project over others, but Liverpool’s ability to match terms will complicate any assumptions.

A decision may ultimately hinge on the timing of the release-clause activation. City have historically favoured such moves rather than intense negotiations and bidding wars, while Liverpool have shown willingness to act quickly when required.

Should Bournemouth insist on keeping the player until the summer, the balance could shift again – particularly with the £5 million clause reduction due in mid-2026. For now, Semenyo continues to weigh up his options without urgency, leaving City, Liverpool, and Bournemouth braced for a long-running transfer story.