Antoine Semenyo of AFC Bournemouth and Milos Kerkez of Liverpool battle for possession during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Bournemouth at Anfield on August 15, 2025 in Liverpool, England.placeholder image
Antoine Semenyo of AFC Bournemouth and Milos Kerkez of Liverpool battle for possession during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Bournemouth at Anfield on August 15, 2025 in Liverpool, England. | Getty Images
Man United have been linked with a move for Antoine Semenyo but Ruben Amorim already has a better option in his squad and should look elsewhere.
Man United in Antoine Semenyo transfer race
The 25-year old has been one of the Premier League’s in form players this season with Liverpool and Man City also said to be keeping tabs on the Ghana international. United are reported to be working hard to persuade the winger that Old Trafford should be his next home and that he could help to improve the current league position and fire the club to Champions League football.
What might make persuading Semenyo difficult is that he would, probably, be asked to play a wing-back role rather than in the front three given his natural ability as a wide player, rather than as a no.10 or centre forward. As a player used to playing in a front three, having extra defensive work might not be something he is willing to do. If the plan is to play Semenyo in the forward line, United can save themselves £65m by playing one of the current squad in his natural position.
With Bryan Mbeumo heading to the African Cup of Nations, Amad Diallo might have been given a run of games behind Benjamin Sesko only he has also been called up, by the Ivory Coast.
United shouldn’t be targeting Semenyo to play in the front three when they already have Amad, who has 15 goals and 15 assists for the club, mainly from wing-back, they should be looking to sign a specialist for the more defensive role.
Who has Amorim said he wants to sign for wing-back role?
https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13476598/man-utd-boss-ruben-amorim-says-he-needs-another-wing-back-like-amad-diallo-for-his-system-to-improve
Amad has made a rod for his own back by being one of the first names on Amorim’s team sheet as a wing-back. Ideally, the Portuguese boss would probably prefer to have a full-back who is capable of attacking, rather than playing a winger in a position that still requires a degree of defensive nous. According to Amorim though, Amad is the standard by which the recruitment team should look to strengthen the other side of United’s midfield:
"We need time to improve the characteristics of the team. I've said that over the last year,” Amorim told Sky Sports. "To give an example, in the last game [against Everton], we should have an Amad with the right foot to put on the other side to play against 10 men.
"It is these characteristics that in time we will try to get to be a better team. If we are the perfect set-up to play in this way, not yet. But like any team, we need time to put the right characteristics into every position." Amorim is right. He needs the right players in the right position, but Semenyo would be a square peg in a round hole.
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