Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo has been talked up for a potential transfer away from the Vitality Stadium in the near future, with several clubs chasing his signature
Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo
Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo has been linked with a move to Liverpool
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Liverpool will need to splash out £80million to land Antoine Semenyo, it's been claimed. The Reds have been linked with a swoop for the prolific Bournemouth forward, who has already netted six times in eight Premier League outings this campaign.
Manchester United are also said to be considering a bid for Semenyo, who committed to a fresh five-year deal with the Cherries over the summer. Despite penning extended terms, Bournemouth may encounter significant interest in the attacker should he maintain his outstanding form.
A price tag of £75m was previously mentioned for the Ghana winger during the last transfer window, but ex-United goalkeeper Ben Foster is adamant it will require more than that sum for his exit to be approved.
The former England and Wrexham keeper also believes Spanish heavyweights Real Madrid and Barcelona will be pursuing Semenyo, suggesting Liverpool could encounter fierce rivalry from three additional sides should they opt to chase him. However, Foster reckons it would be a contest worth entering after branding him as "the full package".
Speaking on his Fozcast podcast, he said: "Semenyo could go anywhere. He is a thing of beauty. The biggest thing Bournemouth did this summer was getting him signed down to a new contract. He might be worth £80m.
"This is the market and the world that we live in now. He works his socks off and delivers goals and assists. He's the full package. At 25, he's literally about to come into his prime. It wouldn't surprise me if he signed for Real or Barca."
Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo
Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo reportedly has a release clause in his contract
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Whilst Bournemouth managed to ward off summer approaches for Semenyo, his latest contract is believed to contain a release clause that could facilitate his exit in the coming months. Cherries manager Andoni Iraola was predictably coy when pressed directly about the buyout figure.
"I don't know anything about the contracts of the players," he said when asked about Semenyo on Friday. "I don't know how much they earn and don't know want to know either.
"The most important thing for me is that he continues playing well. If he does there will be more noise but it's something we take if he's playing well. My concern is to keep him in the spot where he's playing well."
Though Semenyo acknowledged he "didn't feel wanted" sufficiently by other sides to depart Bournemouth during the previous transfer window, his development mentor anticipates him joining a "big club" eventually.
Saul Isaksson-Hurst said: "He's unbelievable. He's a Champions League player and was unlucky not to get a move in the summer, but it's a matter of time before he goes to a big club. There was interest. He's one of the most electric players in the Premier League at the moment. So there's no ceiling.
"If you can dominate the Premier League you can dominate any league. He could play for any of the big clubs and make an impact. I said to him straight away, 'You should be playing Champions League football.' That's got to be the initial target. How's he going to do that?".
He added: "You've got to be one of the best players at Bournemouth and help them have a really successful season and ideally be one of the highest for goals and assists in your team and in the league which will give you the platform to do that. It's a natural progression."
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