Antoine Semenyo: Man United transfer in January takes sharp twist | OneFootball

Antoine Semenyo will be unexpectedly available to interested suitors, including Manchester United, in the January transfer window – and a fresh report has shed light on the Bournemouth winger’s reaction to a potential exit from the Vitality Stadium.

Long-Term Target at Old Trafford

The Red Devils are long-term admirers of Semenyo with Ruben Amorim believed to be enamoured by the 25-year-old’s potent pairing of speed and skill, wrapped up in a powerful 6’1 frame.

The Ghana international, who will not depart for the African Cup of Nations next month as the Black Stars did not qualify, is also one of the most two-footed players in the Premier League – a quality United’s head coach values highly in his unique 3-4-2-1 system.

As the Premier League becomes increasingly a division dominated by physicality, players who can offer the pace and power modern tactics demand, without a drop in technical ability, are highly attractive prospects, particularly when they are as productive as Semenyo has been this season.

Only Erling Haaland has more goal contributions than the Bournemouth talisman this season, with Semenyo looking certain to beat his previous best campaign last year if this fine form continues.

Antoine Semenyo 24/25 stats

Statistics provided by Transfermarkt 

There is a reason England’s elite are keeping close tabs on the south coast, with Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur all joining United in the hunt for a winger who continues to go from strength to strength under Andoni Iraola’s tutelage.

Both United and Spurs tabled bids last summer, worth around £50 million, but Semenyo rejected them in favour of signing a new deal with the Cherries. Included in negotiations, however, was a £65m release clause – worth £60m in guaranteed fees with £5m in achievable add-ons – which becomes active for a set period of the January transfer window.

If a club bids outside this timeframe, designed to give Bournemouth sufficient time to locate a suitable replacement, the clause is void. It would then become active again in the summer – but at a slightly lower price, according to The Telegraph.

Happy to Stay Put

Reports had suggested Semenyo was open to a move in January with United said to be planning a raid to fend off interest from their domestic rivals.

However, The Telegraph reveals the winger is “not agitating for a move during this season”, though he “expects” to depart the Vitality at the end of the campaign – a view reciprocated by his club.

Sources indicate the winger “remains highly motivated and accepts that his best chance of securing the move he eventually wants is to continue performing well for Bournemouth.”

The Cherries have enjoyed great success with an approach which sees them willing to sell their star players if a suitable offer arrives. This allows them to attract excellent young prospects and avoid internal disputes once they have flourished, as an eventual exit was always part of the agreed plan.

A blessing or a blow for United?

United’s interest in Semenyo is unlikely to have evaporated, despite the signings of a new attacking trident – Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko – in the summer.

The Ghanian is, above all else, a Swiss-army knife of a footballer, capable of playing on either side of the pitch in a variety of different roles and formations.

United will also expect a return to European football next season, even if it is through the Europa League, and a more robust squad will be needed to meet this demand, both offensively and defensively.

Semenyo’s profile – a powerful 6’1 winger with outstanding dribbling off both feet and a strong defensive work rate – translates tantalising as a wing-back in Amorim’s system, though there are doubts over whether this would be the best of use of one of the division’s best attacking players at a premium price.

But the Red Devils were always going to struggle to afford such a transfer in the winter window. Additional funds from European football at the end of the season, and the continued offload of unwanted players and big contracts, will bolster the budget come the summer, however.

From this perspective, the fact that Semenyo appears content to remain on the south coast until that point should represent a blessing in disguise for Old Trafford officials, particularly as the release clause will lower slightly then as well.

If the 25-year-old was actively pushing to leave Bournemouth in January, one of United’s rivals with a stronger financial position may have been able to swoop before we ever reached the summer window.

Featured image Lewis Storey via Getty Images

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