The race to sign Antoine Semenyo is heating up, but there are doubts over whether the Bournemouth talisman is what Manchester United need in 2026.
When Ruben Amorim described Antoine Semenyo as ‘special’, it was a sign that Manchester United are targeting the winger in the new year.
The rumours have increased since then, but respected transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano believes the battle for Semenyo consists of United and Man City.
That will come as a blow to other interested clubs, including Liverpool and Tottenham.
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Semenyo has been one of the most dangerous attacking players in the Premier League this season, with seven goals and three assists.
The 25-year-old scored in United’s 4-4 draw with Bournemouth before adding to his account again at the weekend with a goal against Burnley.
Now, Bournemouth run the risk of losing their talisman midway through the season. That would be an almighty setback for Andoni Iraola and the Cherries.
Henry Winter warns Man Utd against Antoine Semenyo transfer
With both Manchester clubs trying to sign Semenyo, the Ghana international has a huge decision to make.
United believe uncertainty over Pep Guardiola’s future could work in their favour, but they will also need to convince Semenyo that he will be an important player in Amorim’s system.
Semenyo could play three roles at United, but respected journalist Henry Winter has told Sky Sports why he has doubts over Semenyo’s potential move to Old Trafford.
“I mean, all the signals coming out of Liverpool or around Liverpool is that they’re not necessarily going to go for him,” Winter said on Sky Sports’ Transfer Talk podcast.
“Whether that’s just sort of smoke and mirrors, I don’t know. Maybe they look at the way that Florian Wirtz is sort of developing, but different players.
“Semenyo, I think, would be absolutely fantastic. But I find the Manchester United connection, and I don’t doubt the people who have been writing about it, and I absolutely respect their sources and their judgment. But Antoine Semenyo is not the type of player they need, not in a sort of 3-4-2-1 system.
“He’s better in a 4-2-3-1 with proper width. He’s not a wingback. If you’re going to tell a player like him, say, well, come to Manchester United, okay, we’re Manchester United, the second biggest club in the world.
“But you’re going to play as a wingback because we’re not completely convinced with Dalot or Dorgu and you would assume it’s probably Dorgu because they’ll have Amad Diallo on the right when he returns from AFCON. Does he want to go there?”
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There will be pros and cons to joining different clubs for Semenyo, but United are a team building for the future, and he can be a star. That makes it sound like the perfect match.
Reports also suggest that Semenyo has snubbed Tottenham.
How Man Utd feel about Antoine Semenyo transfer
Winter is not the only person questioning how Semenyo will fit in at United, but people at the club are convinced he is too good a player to pass up on.
Semenyo’s £65 million release clause is active in January, which presents an array of clubs with the opportunity to sign a talented player in a cut price deal.
ESPN reporter Rob Dawson recently shared how United feel about Semenyo ahead of the January transfer window.
“He is the type of player that they think would boost the squad long term,” Dawson said on the Football Reporters podcast.
“He’s not what they need right now, but they don’t feel that they can pass up the opportunity to pass on a player who has got proven Premier League quality and is right in their age bracket at 25 years old.”
United have Mason Mount, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha all competing for attacking roles.
Dawson added that they are not the only ones: “They’ve got Zirkzee still, you’ve got Amad who can play as a 10, so all these players kind of battling for the same position.
“United will look at it or saying that they’re looking at it as a long term prospect and that they’re hoping that possibly they could add Semenyo in January and then move to the summer and sign the likes of Anderson or Wharton, and then you’ve got a far more well-rounded squad than you had at the start of this season.”
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