Antoine Semenyo may be on the move away from Bournemouth come January, with Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United all said to be interested in the forward
Antoine Semenyo celebrates a goal
Antoine Semenyo could be on the move in January(Image: Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth, AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)
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With a host of Premier League clubs vying for Antoine Semenyo's signature, it remains uncertain where he may end up when the January transfer window closes. The Bournemouth forward has been a revelation in the Premier League this season, with his once erratic shooting in the final third now a thing of the past.
Semenyo's tally of eight goals and three assists from 16 appearances has sparked a flurry of interest in clubs securing his services. Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester City have all been strongly linked, but it appears only three clubs are still in contention.
Semenyo has reportedly ruled out a move to Spurs, and it's unlikely that Arsenal will make a serious bid for him in January, which is when he is reportedly keen to move. According to Sky Sports, Chelsea have now entered the fray, having made an enquiry and assessed the terms of a potential deal.
According to Sky Sports, Chelsea have now entered the fray, having made an enquiry and assessed the terms of a potential deal. A recently surfaced clip in which Semenyo refers to Chelsea as "we" while reminiscing about a memorable goal by Didier Drogba could aid the Blues when it comes to sealing a potential transfer.
Yet it seems that might have been a slip of the tongue, as Semenyo, who has been spotted at the Emirates Stadium, once explicitly stated that he supports Arsenal. In a 2024 interview with The Athletic, he said: "I am an Arsenal fan.
"I don't conflict the two with my job. It is great to play against Arsenal, a team I have watched all my life and I want to play for the top clubs as well. In order for that to happen I need to prove it."
When quizzed about whether joining the Gunners would be his dream, Semenyo responded: "Yeah, any team that plays Champions League, Europa (League) - that's the aim. I know that's not going to come with a click of my fingers, it's going to take some time.
Antoine Semenyo gestures
A number of clubs are said to be interested in Antoine Semenyo(Image: Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth, AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)
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"It's going to take goals. It's going to take a lot of consistent performances. But I've worked all my life for that and I'm just going to continue working hard. That's my mentality."
Semenyo seems to have his pick of three Champions League teams, provided they're willing to activate the £65million release clause in his contract come early January. After several standout performances, it appears the Cherries have resigned themselves to losing him, with Andoni Iraola unable to confirm otherwise.
At a press conference, he said: "At the end, in the situation, myself as a coach, I don't control. When you sign a contract, I understand both parties are happy when you sign it.
"But me as a coach, I can only tell you I hope we don't lose him, because he is very important for us. But I don't know what is going to happen."
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