Semenyo’s January Transfer Talks: Man City Leads as Premier League Rivals Loom
Antoine Semenyo is poised to make a final call on his future as Man City engages in advanced negotiations over a January move for the Bournemouth forward. Sources indicate that City has made significant positive strides in recent days, fostering confidence that they are well-positioned to secure the 25-year-old’s signature.
Four other Premier League clubs have also made enquiries, to varying degrees, about Semenyo, who has a £65m release clause; these clubs are confirmed as Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham, and Chelsea. United’s interest has waned amid expectations that Semenyo will join Pep Guardiola’s side, while Chelsea has opted not to pursue a deal further.
Liverpool has explored the terms of a potential deal, and it remains uncertain whether they will escalate their initial interest following Alexander Isak’s broken leg. Tottenham is regarded as an outsider in the race for the Ghana international, who joined Bournemouth from Bristol City in 2023.
A critical detail is that Semenyo’s release clause is only active for the first 10 days of January—a provision included to retain him at Bournemouth when he signed a new contract last July. The price tag is set to drop slightly in the summer transfer window.
Bournemouth acknowledges the vulnerability of losing their key player and is open to negotiating with any club willing to let Semenyo stay until the end of the current season. Financially, well-placed sources stress that all interested clubs are prepared to offer a remarkably similar remuneration package to Semenyo.
This means his final decision will hinge heavily on his personal sporting ambitions. Turning 26 on January 7, Semenyo recognizes that he is entering the prime of his career, adding urgency to his choice.
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola addressed the speculation surrounding Semenyo, stating, “I know there is lots of noise around him. It is not my concern; my concern is it doesn’t affect his performances. It is not doing, he is very committed to the team and I hope we can keep him here.”
He added, “It’s a situation we cannot control, but Antoine right now is our player, going to continue playing for us. If you ask me, I don’t want to lose him, definitely don’t. But every time the market opens, you never know what is going to happen.”
Semenyo is understood to prioritize a club offering a suitable long-term project to compete for major trophies, with location and family impact also playing contributing roles. He is keen to avoid a prolonged saga, aiming for a swift resolution.
Guardiola’s Strategic Boost: What Semenyo’s Potential Signing Means for Man City
Man City’s pursuit of Semenyo marks a contrast to last January, when the club spent heavily amid an injury crisis; this time, the move comes under vastly different circumstances as they chase Arsenal in the Premier League title race. Both teams are competing on four fronts.
Guardiola has decided to strengthen the right-hand side of his attack—a role where Semenyo’s pace and direct running from the flank make him an ideal fit. Securing Semenyo over other suitors would be a significant boost for Guardiola, underscoring the club’s appeal to top talent.
However, Semenyo’s potential arrival could trigger an exit, with Savinho or Oscar Bobb likely to be moved on to create space in the squad. Tottenham held talks with City over Savinho in the summer but failed to agree on a fee.
This raises questions about whether they will revisit the possibility when the transfer window opens next month. For Guardiola, landing Semenyo is not just a short-term reinforcement but a strategic move to bolster City’s title credentials across multiple competitions, aligning with the club’s sustained pursuit of silverware.
