Manchester United are firmly in the race to sign Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth but face strong competition from Manchester City and Tottenham.
The 25-year-old winger has a £65m release clause in his contract, which becomes active on January 1. Several top Premier League clubs are monitoring the situation, including Liverpool.
Semenyo impressed again on Monday night when he scored at Old Trafford during Bournemouth’s dramatic 4-4 draw with United. His performance added to growing interest in his future.
City continue to track Semenyo closely, while Spurs have also shown serious intent. Some insiders believe Pep Guardiola’s side currently lead the race. United, however, remain strong rivals and have followed the player for some time.
Liverpool remain in the background, while Arsenal have monitored Semenyo’s development. Arsenal are unlikely to move at this stage due to their depth in wide areas.
Semenyo has scored 29 goals in more than 100 appearances for Bournemouth. Sky Sports News understands United’s hierarchy have admired him for the long term.
United did not plan to sign another forward in January. However, the chance to secure Semenyo for a fixed price has forced serious internal discussions.
Finances remain the biggest concern for United. While they are not at risk of breaching PSR rules, a £65m fee could limit their summer spending. A defensive midfielder remains their top priority.
United do not want to enter a bidding war. They will not compromise their summer plans to sign another attacker.
Tottenham have intensified efforts to trigger the release clause, while Liverpool’s interest remains long-standing.
Despite the speculation, Semenyo’s camp insist he remains focused on Bournemouth. His national team failed to qualify for AFCON, allowing him to stay with his club during the tournament.
Amorim Calls Semenyo a “Special Player” United head coach Ruben Amorim praised Semenyo ahead of the Bournemouth clash.
“It is a top team, top manager with a special player,” Amorim said.
When asked to clarify, he confirmed he was referring to Semenyo. Amorim later played down transfer talk but repeated his admiration.
“There are a lot of special players in the league,” he said. “But I really like the team and I think he is a special player.”
Semenyo backed up that praise by scoring against United once again. He has now found the net in all three matches Bournemouth have played against Amorim’s side since his arrival.
