Arsenal, Man Utd, City & Liverpool in January Battle for Bournemouth Star Antoine Semenyo
Ben McAleer
Arsenal and Manchester United are among five teams interested in signing Antoine Semenyo in the January window, reports talkSPORT.
Semenyo is a wanted man ahead of the New Year with a number of sides tracking the Bournemouth star.
The 25-year-old has scored seven goals and provided a further three assists for the Cherries in the Premier League this season, which has seen his stock soar.
Additionally, Semenyo, who penned a five-year deal at the Vitality Stadium over the summer, has a £65m release clause that can be activated early in the window to give Bournemouth a chance to sign a replacement.
The Cherries are keen to retain the Ghanaian’s services, and that release clause drops to £60m next summer, but are bracing themselves for a January exit.
Five Premier League teams keen on Semenyo
Liverpool were the frontrunners to sign Semenyo earlier in the year as they sought to strengthen their attack line further.
The Reds spent big to sign Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz over the summer, however with question marks over Mohamed Salah’s future at Anfield, the defending champions are hoping to bolster in the final third next month.
Liverpool are now without Salah for up to six matches owing to his Africa Cup of Nations participation with Egypt, though the 33-year-old may have already played his final game for the defending Premier League champions amidst reports he’ll leave the club next month.
City leading the race for Bournemouth forward
However, they have since dropped behind Manchester City in the race for Semenyo with Pep Guardiola keen on the Ghana international.
City, like Liverpool, will be light in attack for the coming weeks as Omar Marmoush links up with the Egypt national team for AFCON in Morocco.
Tottenham are also in the market for a left winger having failed in their pursuit to bring in another forward over the summer, with City wideman Savinho emerging as a target for the north London side despite signing a new deal at the Etihad Stadium in October.
United and Arsenal will also consider a move for Semenyo next month, though the latter will only push to sign the Bournemouth forward if they lose either Gabriel Martinelli or Leandro Trossard.
Semenyo ended a goalless run with his seventh strike of the season in Monday’s entertaining 4-4 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford.
And he’ll hope to fire Bournemouth to a first win since a 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at the end of October when the Cherries face Burnley on the south coast this weekend.
