Manchester City have held talks with Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo, talkSPORT understands.
City are one of a number of Premier League big hitters interested in triggering Semenyo's release clause of between £60million and £65m.
Semenyo is widely expected to secure a big-money move in January
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Semenyo is widely expected to secure a big-money move in JanuaryCredit: AFP
Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham are also actively pursuing January deals for the Ghana international.
talkSPORT understands Arsenal are open to a move if they offload a winger next month, although the Gunners are expecting a quiet transfer window.
City have stolen a march on their top-flight rivals by opening talks with Semenyo two weeks before the winter window opens.
Manager Pep Guardiola is currently without wingers Jeremy Doku and Oscar Bobb due to injury, while Omar Marmoush is on AFCON duty with Egypt.
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Semenyo will be available throughout the winter after Ghana failed to qualify for AFCON.
The 25-year-old is the joint-third-highest scorer in the Premier League this season with seven goals in 15 games.
He signed a new five-year deal with Bournemouth earlier this year and is thought to be calm about his future despite non-stop speculation.
Semenyo returned to the scoresheet in the recent 4-4 draw with Manchester United after eight games without a goal in all competitions.
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has been forced to bat away questions about Semenyo's future throughout the season.
Speaking in November, the Cherries boss 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.
Manchester City are two points off leaders Arsenal heading into the Christmas period
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Manchester City are two points off leaders Arsenal heading into the Christmas periodCredit: Getty
"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."
talkSPORT verdict: Alex Crook (chief football correspondent)
I think the Semenyo situation is going to be a big talking point. Certainly for the first half of January.
We exclusively broke the news that he had a release clause in his contract that does indeed become active in the January transfer window.
There is a cut-off point, I think around about halfway through the month, by which clubs need to activate it.
We know that Liverpool are keen. There's obviously a link there with Richard Hughes - the sporting director who signed Semenyo from Bristol City for Bournemouth in the first place.
Manchester United are certainly in the race as well - and Tottenham - although I'd make them outsiders at this moment in time.