Manchester City are believed to be moving forwards with a January transfer swoop for Antoine Semenyo.
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Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal are reported to have fallen behind Premier League rivals Manchester City in the transfer race for AFC Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo.
The 25-year-old has had a scintillating start to the season with seven goals and three assists in the division. Semenyo was on target in the 4-4 draw with Manchester United on Monday night.
The forward’s form has sparked transfer talk ahead of the January window and a £60 million release clause in his contract at the Vitality Stadium makes a move away from the south coast a realistic possibility.
Manchester City hold talks with Antoine Semenyo
Several Premier League clubs have been linked with Semenyo, including Arsenal and Spurs, but it appears to be Manchester City who are frontrunners. Pep Guardiola’s side have made up ground after a slower start to the campaign and are now just two points behind the Gunners.
talkSPORT reports that Manchester City have now ‘held talks’ with Semenyo as their transfer interest becomes concrete. The forward will be available to play in the Premier League throughout the winter with Ghana failing to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Guardiola is currently without wingers Jeremy Doku and Oscar Bobb due to injury and it’s touted that the Cityzens could move swiftly to recruit Semenyo once the window opens. Liverpool and Manchester United are also said to be ‘actively pursuing’ deals for Semenyo.
The player only signed a new five-year contract with AFC Bournemouth earlier this year but the existence of a release clause leaves the Cherries with little power. The report claims that Semenyo is ‘calm about his future’ despite speculation.
Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal monitoring AFC Bournemouth winger
It’s added that Tottenham Hotspur are now ‘outsiders’ to complete a deal in a blow for Thomas Frank. The London outfit are set to have cash to spend in January and a lack of firepower has been an issue this term.
Meanwhile, Arsenal hold interest in Semenyo but a transfer move would only happen if they offload a winger next month. A ‘quiet transfer window’ is touted for the Gunners by talkSPORT, meaning that Manchester City’s latest moves are likely less of a concern for Arsenal.
Speaking about Semenyo in November, AFC Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola said: "Antoine is our player, he will continue being our player. In January, you can ask me about the market in January, but right now I'm not worried about the next markets. "It's something that especially you know that I hate to talk about in August, January, the moments when the market is open, but it is not one of those moments. It's November.
"I'm more worried about the situation of the players to play tomorrow, the short-term, the things that really matter and in January, we will talk about whatever happens, the players we need. But it is not something that I'm worried about today."
In other news, 'They like' - David Ornstein explains Tottenham's January transfer strategy as two targets named.