Manchester City hold direct talks with Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo | OneFootball

Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo has received direct contact from Manchester City ahead of the January transfer window, according to reports.

The development represents a significant escalation in a saga that has been building for several weeks, with City long identified as admirers of the Ghana international, with some reports suggesting Pep Guardiola has been personnaly driving internal interest as the club assesses how best to add goals and physicality from wide areas.

Elsewhere, it has been claimed that Manchester City’s recruitment team have also been weighing up whether to prioritise a powerful, direct winger profile – a category Antoine Semenyo fits squarely into.

The player’s contractual situation has kept the market alert, while Bournemouth have a preference to keep the forward for the remainder of the season unless his release clause is activated, and remain relaxed about delaying a sale into the summer or even beyond the 2026 World Cup.

However, reports indicate that the clause – set at £65 million early in January – creates a narrow but compelling window for elite clubs willing to move decisively, and competition has intensified accordingly.

But now, according to talkSPORT’s Alex Crook, Manchester City have held talks with the Bournemouth winger ahead of the January market, and are one of a number of Premier League giants interested in triggering the player’s release clause.

Alongside Etihad Stadium officials, the report names all of Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham as also actively pursuing a winter deal for Antoine Semenyo, while Arsenal are open to a move if they offload a winger next month.

It is claimed that a January exit from the Vitality Stadium for Semenyo is now ‘very likely’, although the feeling around Spurs’ interest is that Thomas Frank’s side are currently ‘outsiders’ for the forward.

For City, reports of direct talks underscores the seriousness of their intent amid Guardiola’s claimed belief that current wide options – including Savinho and Oscar Bobb – lack consistent goal output has framed Semenyo as a tactical solution rather than a speculative addition.

Much will depend on whether any club is prepared to trigger the clause early, although should multiple suitors move simultaneously, Bournemouth’s hands would be forced and the decision would shift decisively to the player.

Given previous indications that Antoine Semenyo is calm about his future and selective about destinations, Manchester City’s project – and Pep Guardiola’s reported personal backing – could prove influential.