Manchester United are competing with Liverpool and Manchester City for Bournemouth striker Antoine Semenyo, hoping to sign him in early January. United manager Rúben Amorim first expressed interest in the 25-year-old player earlier this summer.
Semenyo prefers to join Liverpool, with Manchester City as his second choice, so the United manager will need to work hard to convince him.
Semenyo scored a goal in Bournemouth’s 4-4 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford on Monday. It is understood that his release clause is just below £65 million, including loyalty bonus and agent fees.
This release clause must be activated by early next month. Tottenham Hotspur are also interested in Semenyo, but they seem to have little chance of signing the former Bristol City player.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot is determined to sign Semenyo, seeing him as a successor to Mohamed Salah. Manchester City have already made contact with the player and his agent.
Although Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola’s contract does not expire until June 2027, there is still uncertainty surrounding his future. The Catalan manager may consider leaving next summer, but this should not affect any of Semenyo’s decisions.
Amorim hopes Semenyo will strengthen the team’s options at full-back and striker positions. Before United’s draw with Bournemouth, Amorim praised the Ghanaian international as a "special" player. Amorim wants him to mainly play as a left-back or attacking midfielder.
At left-back, Patrick Dorgu, the first player Amorim signed last January, has had a mixed performance, while his other option, Diogo Dalot, mainly plays as a right-back.
