Antoine Semenyo has rejected Tottenham Hotspur and appears likely to move to Manchester City, Manchester United, or Liverpool in the early stages of the January transfer window, according to reports.
Speaking live on NBC Sports on Sunday night, David Ornstein reported that a January transfer for Antoine Semenyo appears very possible, and it’s likely to be sooner rather than later.
That’s because Semenyo has a £65m release clause in his Bournemouth contract, but it’s only valid until around January 10th. The clause will become active again in the summer at a lower value, but it currently looks as though the winger will be gone long before that.
Ornstein reports that Arsenal might have looked at the situation, but more in terms of a summer move. So with Semenyo seemingly unwilling to wait, that may rule the Gunners out of the race.
Instead, Ornstein reports that Manchester City and Manchester United are emerging as the leading contenders, with Liverpool also having great admiration but not moving on their interest to the same extent so far. That could change with Alexander Isak’s injury on Saturday.
But along with Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur are out of the January race. Ornstein claims Spurs were very keen and willing to pay significant wages for the signing, but the player politely turned them down.
There may have been an Arsenal element to that decision, with Semenyo previously admitting he’s an Arsenal supporter.
“I am an Arsenal fan,” Semenyo told The Athletic amid links to the Gunners last year. “I don’t conflict the two with my job.
“It is great to play against Arsenal, a team I have watched all my life and I want to play for the top clubs as well. In order for that to happen I need to prove it.”
Despite Ornstein’s suggestions that the two Manchester clubs might be ahead of Liverpool at the moment, Mark Dobson reports for The Guardian that Semenyo has actually agreed personal terms with the Merseyside club, adding that he favours Liverpool over the alternatives.
That could well be a new development following Isak’s injury, with Liverpool suddenly short and in need of additions. But let’s see how things play out over the next couple of weeks.
If Liverpool do move for Semenyo, it’s not impossible his first game could come against Arsenal. With that January 10th deadline for his release clause, if a deal is going to happen it could well be done in time for the Arsenal match two days earlier.
Arsenal travel away to Bournemouth on January 3rd, so if a deal is done even earlier then Semenyo might miss that game at least. The Gunners then host Bournemouth on April 11th.