Manchester Giants Circle as £65m Clause Puts Semenyo in the Shop Window

Well then, here we go. The first bell of the January window has barely rung and the two Manchester heavyweights are already jostling for position. Manchester United and Manchester City are at the front of the queue for Bournemouth’s livewire Antoine Semenyo, and the timing could be decisive.

£65m clause sparks an early-window scramble

Semenyo has a release clause in the region of £65m that only applies in the early part of the January window – trigger it, and Bournemouth can do precious little about it. That’s why the big boys are moving quickly. The Cherries would love to keep the Ghana international until the summer, but the clause is the clause.

City’s brief: a different flavour out wide

City want another wide threat with end product and, crucially, a different profile to Jeremy Doku, Savinho and Oscar Bobb. Semenyo brings raw power, direct running and a knack for unsettling back lines – the sort of winger who turns tidy possession into panic in the penalty area. It’s not hard to see why Pep would fancy that added dimension for the run-in.

United’s angle: flexibility and timing

United sounded out Semenyo in the summer and the door’s ajar again now. While their longer-term rebuild points towards midfield, the here-and-now matters: AFCON absences to juggle, plus the need for pace and pressing in wide areas. Semenyo’s versatility helps too; he can operate on either flank and has even covered at left wing-back when required – a manager’s dream in a thin squad.

Liverpool and Spurs: interest, but second wave

Liverpool have kicked the tyres, but the word is they’re less aggressive than they were a few weeks back. That could change if the market moves, yet for now they’re not matching the Mancunian momentum. Spurs have held conversations with the player’s camp, albeit from further back in the pack.

Arsenal’s stance: admire now, act later

Arsenal like the player – who wouldn’t? – but a summer play suits them best. An in-window switch would likely depend on someone leaving first. In other words, barring a surprise, the Gunners are watching rather than bidding.

Why Semenyo? The hype has substance

Inside Bournemouth, the respect is real – Justin Kluivert has raved about Semenyo’s ceiling, and there are plenty around the league who class him among the quickest wide men in the country. He stretches teams, he carries a threat in transition, and he’s added polish to his final ball. For top sides who face low blocks every week, that spark matters.

The market reality

Because the clause is time-limited, this is an early-window play. If nobody pulls the lever in that initial spell, the dynamics shift back towards Bournemouth’s favour and any deal becomes a negotiation rather than a formality. But with two moneyed suitors eyeing a title chase and a top-four push respectively, the smart money says we’ll see a move attempted sooner rather than later.

If you’re tracking where the odds are drifting as the window opens, you’ll find the latest prices across the best betting sites. Keep your phone close – this one has the feel of a quickfire January saga.