Manchester United have been involved in numerous transfer sagas over the years, and the Antoine Semenyo one reminds us of a lesson the club must learn from.
The biggest transfer saga of the 2026 January transfer window might have already just concluded.
With speculation heightening over the future of Antoine Semenyo, David Ornstein broke the news that the Bournemouth winger wants to join Manchester City.
City are now expected to trigger Semenyo’s release clause and close a deal.
Similar to Erling Haaland miss in 2019
It is rare for Manchester United to be so determined to sign a player in the winter transfer window. The club are usually typically late movers – or do not move at all.
The last time we recall Manchester United being this active in December, ahead of the window, was when pursuing Erling Haaland in 2019.
Similarly to the Semenyo situation, Haaland had a widely known release clause in his contract at Red Bull Salzburg.
Combined with his prolific form, Haaland attracted the attention of several of Europe’s top clubs – but Manchester United were particularly keen.
With the chase urged by Haaland’s former Molde manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, United’s pursuit ultimately came down to Ed Woodward to oversee.
Woodward’s negotiating did not work – he refused to sanction a release clause in any contract Haaland would sign with the club.
And like Semenyo, Haaland made up his mind before the January transfer window even opened.
He announced that he had chosen to sign with Borussia Dortmund, leaving Manchester United frustrated – even more so when he later joined City in 2022.
What is really important now, is what comes next.
What is your message to Antoine Semenyo?
Has he made a mistake choosing to join City? What should United do now?
United signed Odion Ighalo in response
Manchester United did not respond at all well to missing out on Erling Haaland ahead of the January 2020 transfer window.
Despite Haaland deciding to join City on December 29, it took Manchester United the entire January transfer window to make a move for another striker.
And when they did, in the final hours of deadline day, it really revealed how underprepared and amateurish the approach under Ed Woodward was.
Manchester United’s alternative to Haaland was to sign Odion Ighalo from the Chinese Super League on a loan deal.
While we readily accept there really were not many real alternatives to a generational striker like Haaland, it was quite striking how underprepared Manchester United were.
Will 2026 be different to 2020?
Who should now be Man Utd’s top transfer target in January 2026?
After missing out on Antoine Semenyo, who should Manchester United be targeting?
Needs must be re-evaluated
The situations in 2020 and 2026 are a little different.
Manchester United clearly needed a striker in 2020, and viewed Erling Haaland as the best option. The situation was so desperate that the club eventually moved for Ighalo.
This time around, Manchester United were competing for Antoine Semenyo – but it would have been a real luxury buy.
Just in the past 24 hours, Paul Scholes and Henry Winter both questioned where Semenyo would fit in at United, and there was no clear answer, other than shunting him to wing-back.
Semenyo plays at a position that Manchester United did not need to prioritise, having just signed Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha.
So what Manchester United actually need to do, is to pivot and reevaluate the team’s needs, and what is crystal clear, the team need new midfielders.
Even if expensive long-term options are not available this month, injuries to Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes mean that a more short-term option should be assessed.
Whichever direction United go in, the club need to be decisive.
We can’t be hanging on to deadline day, frantically calling round agents and battling the clock to sign a player on loan, like we did with Ighalo.
The early conclusion to the Semenyo saga could be a blessing in disguise.
We like to think Ineos are far more prepared than the Woodward era United of 2020.
Now is their opportunity to prove it.
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