**Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo is keen to complete a much-awaited switch to Manchester City by January 1, as per a new report.**
Semenyo has given his go-ahead to join forces with Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium following interest from all of the Premier League’s ‘Big Six’, owing to his desire of winning major trophies as he enters the prime of his career.
The 25-year-old has established himself as one of the Premier League’s best forwards under Andoni Iraola at the Vitality Stadium, with Guardiola driving Manchester City’s interest in Semenyo ahead of the January transfer window.
Executives at the Etihad Stadium have identified the Ghana international has a potent addition to a Manchester City attack too reliant on Erling Haaland to provide the goods in front of goal as the Blues challenge for silverware on multiple fronts.
Semenyo’s representatives sent the feelers out there for potential suitors to express interest in the Bournemouth want-away winger in recent months, with Manchester United and City staking the strongest claims for the attacker.
Liverpool made enquiries as they looked to shore up their frontline in January after British record signing Alexander Isak suffered a major leg injury earlier this month, with Chelsea also briefly entering the race but deciding against strengthening their pursuit of Semenyo.
Tottenham are believed to have offered an attractive salary package to the Cherries star, who politely declined the chance to work with Thomas Frank – though recent reports have suggested that had Arsenal come to the negotiating table, Semenyo would have preferred a switch to the Emirates Stadium.
However, Manchester City have won the race for the Ghanian in the end and a new report has outlined the Bournemouth man’s wish of putting pen to paper at the earliest and move to the north-west at the earliest.
As reported by [BBC Sport’s Sami Mokbel](https://x.com/SamiMokbel_BBC/status/2004945695036612829?s=20), Semenyo is keen on completing his anticipated transfer to Manchester City by January 1 amid suggestions that Bournemouth may want to keep hold of their star forward until January 10 so as to have him in their ranks in upcoming games against Tottenham and Arsenal.
Semenyo’s £65 million release clause is due to expire on January 10, though reports have suggested that Manchester City may look to propose an alternative payment structure to Vitality Stadium executives for the forward.
It has been added that Manchester City, led by director of football Hugo Viana, are expected to proceed with formal steps to close a deal for Semenyo in the coming days as the Blues hand Guardiola further ammunition to win what would be a fifth Premier League title in six years.
The opportunity to work with Guardiola and compete at the highest level is what swayed Semenyo to the blue half of Manchester, with the Bournemouth star desperate to put pen to paper and make the move to the north-west as soon as the January window opens.