Bournemouth’s in-demand talisman Antoine Semenyo could make his decision regarding his future club today.
The forward is the subject of interest from Manchester City, Liverpool, and Manchester United.
Semenyo has a release clause of £60.5million in January and that will drop to £50m in the summer, putting his admirers on red alert.
The 25-year-old has enjoyed an explosive season, scoring eight and assisting three in the Premier League.
His stunning double against Liverpool at Anfield on the opening weekend of the season – in the face of racial abuse – showed what he’s capable of at the elite level.
And Ruben Amorim described him as ‘special player’ after he struck again in Bournemouth’s recent 4-4 thriller at Manchester United.
Liverpool’s need for another forward has been amplified by Alexander Isak’s leg injury against Tottenham, which looks set to rule him out long-term.
Semenyo primarily plays on the left or right flank for Bournemouth but he has been known to take on the number nine role when required.
There is also, of course, doubt surrounding Mohamed Salah’s future, though his re-integration into the team against Brighton was a step in the right direction.
Liverpool should get a clearer picture of Salah’s future when he returns from the Africa Cup of Nations.
Slot insisted Liverpool had ‘moved on’ from the saga surrounding Salah after holding constructive talks with him. The Egypt international had accused the club of ‘throwing him under the bus’ and claimed he had no relationship with Slot in an explosive interview after Liverpool’s 3-3 draw with Leeds earlier this month.
Semenyo’s versatility would prove useful for Slot, who is still experimenting with his team’s layout to try and get the most out of his squad after an expensive summer.
Liverpool will have money to spend in January but will also need to weigh up their priorities given their interest in Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi.
Manchester United’s first target for January is thought to be a defensive midfielder and in the event they sign one, they would have to find a way of financing a deal for Semenyo.
Will Semenyo thrive or struggle if he joins one of England’s biggest clubs this season?
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Selling Joshua Zirkzee is one option. The Dutchman is wanted on loan by Roma and United could include an obligation to buy as part of the package, similar to the £38m clause in Rasmus Hojlund’s move to Napoli.
It is unclear how well Semenyo would fit into Manchester United’s system, given that Amorim deploys a 3-4-3 with wing-backs and attacking midfielders.
Manchester City’s need to sign a new forward is probably less pressing given that they are well-stocked in the attacking positions and far outscore any other team in the league.
Semenyo’s contract with Bournemouth runs until 2030. The Ghanaian star – who is not at AFCON after his nation’s failure to qualify – joined the Cherries from Bristol City in 2023 for £10.5m and has since established himself as one of the Premier League’s most dynamic and exciting attackers.
