Antoine Semenyo started his season with a double against Liverpool at Anfield and has continued on the same goalscoring path.
As we head into the Premier League’s return this weekend, he is the joint-third top scorer in the division, having bagged six in 11 games. Semenyo has also provided three assists (joint-fourth), marking him out as an incredibly effective player in the final third.
It would be no surprise if teams were circling Semenyo, and The Athletic’s David Ornstein reported on Monday that Bournemouth have reluctantly accepted that they might struggle to stop him from leaving the club in the January window.
Semenyo was wanted by Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in the summer. Though the signed a new contract until 2030, there is a limited-time release clause worth £65million, as reported by David. The figure drops even lower in the summer.
Semenyo has recently been linked to Liverpool, Manchester City and Spurs.
Here, The Athletic’s experts explain whether the 25-year-old would fit in at their clubs — and why he might benefit from a longer stint at Bournemouth.
Manchester United
Why would they want him?
Semenyo is an intelligent, two-footed ball carrier with plenty of speed to burn, so he ticks many boxes on Ruben Amorim’s shopping list. The head coach is well acquainted with the goalscoring threat of Semenyo, who scored against United home and away last season.
He would ideally work as the right-sided attacking midfielder in United’s 3-4-3, but can play on either wing and has the defensive acumen to adapt to one of the wing-back positions. Amorim is fond of two-footed wide players, allowing him to coach greater rotations between his front three and wing-backs in the final third and better break down stubborn defences. The Ghana international’s pacey dribbling and much-improved shooting form, as demonstrated in the graphic below, which shows how he has become more selective with his shots, would also make him another excellent counter-attacking option on a team that is at its most dangerous in attacking transitions.
Furthermore, he would fit into INEOS’ recent approach to the transfer market as a young, Premier League-proven football player with a desire to work hard in and out of possession.
Can they afford him in January?
At £65million, a January deal would be difficult. United spent more than £200m on a trio of attacking purchases in the summer, so might have to wait to make another big signing in the forward positions.
United held talks on Semenyo before signing Bryan Mbeumo in the summer, having decided Bournemouth’s £70m valuation was too high.
Amorim will likely be underpowered in attacking areas following Mbeumo and Amad’s departure for the Africa Cup of Nations (Semenyo’s Ghana did not qualify for this year’s edition), but may have to make-do with existing options within his squad, rather than push for another attacker.
That Semenyo’s best position is taken by Mbeumo at United further complicates matters. Semenyo fits within United’s squad, but to properly use him in the starting line-up, the club may first have to solve issues in central midfield, most likely with another expensive signing.
Carl Anka
Tottenham Hotspur
Why would they want him?
Spurs were in the market for a left-winger in the summer, with Semenyo one of their early targets. After he signed a contract extension in early June, their focus was directed toward Manchester City’s Savinho, but their interest could be revived.
Having addressed the right side of their attack by signing Mohammed Kudus, adding an outstanding forward to play on the opposite side should be among their top priorities in the forthcoming window. Semenyo fits into Tottenham’s plan to complement their young talents with international stars coming into their prime years, and would bring an X factor to an attacking line that has relied heavily on Kudus and Xavi Simons, who is adjusting to English football, to create.
Given Spurs’ need for an outstanding left-winger and their longstanding interest, pursuing Semenyo seems a no-brainer.
Can they afford him in January?
Alongside and after the pursuit of Simons, Tottenham were in the market for further attacking reinforcements, eventually completing the deadline-day signing of Randal Kolo Muani on a season-long loan deal.
They are on track to comply with the league’s profit and sustainability regulations, so Spurs could explore a deal to sign Semenyo in January. Due to the pressing need for a left-winger and the opportunity to sign one of the league’s outstanding players at a price many consider to be below market value, Spurs fans will be keen to see their club approach this deal with urgency.
Elias Burke
Liverpool
Why would they want him?
Liverpool only have two senior wingers that head coach Arne Slot trusts — Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah. Opting against signing a like-for-like replacement for Luis Diaz, who was sold to Bayern Munich in the summer, has left them short in wide areas.
Had Salah and Gakpo replicated the form that helped Liverpool win the league last season, then this may be a different debate. Instead, both have struggled and Slot has been reluctant to use Federico Chiesa or 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha. Liverpool played down any links to wide players in the summer as they wanted to avoid blocking Ngumoha’s pathway, but that has been detrimental in the short term.
Summer arrivals Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike could shift to the left, but it is neither player’s natural position.
Slot wants his wide forwards to carry a goal threat and be strong in one-on-one situations, an area Semenyo excels in. His pace would be a welcome addition to Liverpool’s front line, and he is two-footed, so could play on either flank. As the graphic below shows, Semenyo is positionally versatile.
Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth are a pressing side who are strong in transition, and those characteristics were pivotal to Liverpool’s success last season. He would also add another piece to the ‘Life after Salah’ jigsaw Liverpool are putting together.
Can they afford him in January?
Given the club spent just under £450million on new players in the most recent transfer window, you might assume the answer would be no.
However, their attempts to sign Marc Guehi on deadline day showed there were more funds available for the right player. That was helped by what was recouped from player sales, a figure that could rise to £260million.
Liverpool remain in a strong financial position, but the bigger question is whether a winger would be the club’s top priority in January. If they do make a new signing, centre-back depth — especially after Giovanni Leoni suffered a long-term knee injury in September — may be what they decide to address instead.
One of Liverpool’s problems this season is appearing to have changed too much, too quickly. Another big-money addition does not guarantee all of their issues will be fixed.
Andy Jones
Manchester City
Why would they want him?
A hallmark of every Pep Guardiola team has been incisive wide players who can eliminate opponents in one-versus-one situations and contribute double figures in goals.
As much as Jeremy Doku looks to be improving his end product, Guardiola admitted in his press conference after the 3-0 win against Liverpool that it is unlikely the Belgium winger will ever be one of City’s top scorers.
Savinho and Oscar Bobb do not quite have the killer instinct in the final third yet, either. It means City have not quite replaced the output of Riyad Mahrez, or even Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling.
The reliance on Erling Haaland has become pronounced, and Semenyo would offer a direct threat from either wing, improving City on the counter-attack.
City are developing into title contenders. Adding Semenyo would be a statement, the arrival of a peak-age player who could be relied upon to be a match-winner.
Can they afford him in January?
They have spent heavily in the last two windows, but they also allowed some high earners to leave.
It is a younger squad, and there would be enough financial headroom to do a deal. Any addition would likely require a forward to leave to free up space, though, as Guardiola has a wide range of options for his front three positions.
Jordan Campbell
Bournemouth
Why should he stay?
It now seems inevitable that Semenyo will make the step up to a bigger Premier League club in the near future. But how many of the interested parties would offer a better environment for the 25-year-old to thrive?
Semenyo’s thrilling skill set is put to optimal use at Bournemouth. He’s a powerful, two-footed winger who can blast through disorganised defensive structures — no player has scored more goals on the counter-attack this season than Semenyo, while only Liverpool have taken more shots from fast breaks than Bournemouth since Iraola took charge. He is a head coach who places a real emphasis on hard-hitting attacks whenever his team turn over the ball.
That’s not to say that Semenyo can’t help break down a lower block. Take a look at his first goal against Fulham this season; receiving the ball out wide, drawing defenders in with a series of stepovers and shimmies, before bursting through the gap, driving to the byline, and somehow slamming a finish under the goalkeeper at the near post.
Semenyo’s imposing physique and ability to strike the ball cleanly on either side mean he has all the tools to dominate crowded penalty areas, but patience would be required should he move to a more possession-dominant club.
At Bournemouth, Semenyo is the spearhead of an exciting project, working under a coveted manager, with state-of-the-art facilities opened in April. While they don’t (yet) offer the glitz of the Champions League, 60,000-seater stadiums and premium paydays, they do provide a trusted base for Semenyo to get even better, even if it’s just for a couple more years.
Thom Harris