Manchester City have stepped up their efforts to sign Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth and are set to hold meetings with representatives of the in-demand forward in the next 24 hours.
Semenyo is keen to make a swift decision on his future and would like to choose his next club before January 1, when the transfer window opens and the £65million release clause in his contract becomes active.
So far City are the only club to have made contact with Bournemouth regarding the versatile 25-year-old, who scored his ninth goal of the season on Saturday in Bournemouth’s 4-1 defeat by Brentford.
Liverpool also retain an interest in the Ghana player, as do Manchester United and Chelsea. Semenyo rebuffed an approach from Tottenham Hotspur this month after the value of his release clause was made public.
The Liverpool sporting director, Richard Hughes, signed Semenyo for £10million from Bristol City in January 2023 when he held a similar position at Bournemouth.
January 1 is regarded as a key day. If City’s interest is not all but concluded by then, it would indicate that interest from elsewhere is being considered.
While Liverpool have hijacked deals at the 11th hour previously, notably taking Luis DÃaz away from Tottenham and Hugo Ekitike from Newcastle United, it is understood there have been no new developments with regard to the winger, who turns 26 on January 7.
Semenyo’s potential arrival could pave the way for Bobb’s exit at City
ROBIN JONES/GETTY IMAGES
Semenyo’s clause is active only for the first ten days of the winter transfer window but will become live again next summer. It is made up of an initial £60million fee plus £5million in add-ons.
Bournemouth play Chelsea on Tuesday and then take on Arsenal and Tottenham on January 3 and January 7 respectively and the south-coast club would prefer to keep him for those two matches, but it remains to be seen whether City, or any other suitor, would agree to such a request.
Semenyo, who can play up front and on both wings, is also quick and good in the air.
Jérémy Doku has nailed down the left-wing spot in the City first team this season after an improvement in his form, but he is still a work in progress. Doku’s rival Savinho, who was the subject of interest from Spurs last summer, and the right winger Oscar Bobb have struggled this season.
Should City sign Semenyo, Bobb is likely to leave. Bobb has started only two Premier League matches in the past four months. Borussia Dortmund are interested in the 22-year-old, who has lost his place in the Norway team due to his lack of first-team minutes.