Manchester United and Manchester City are both pushing into the race to sign Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo, with the forward’s £65m release clause set to become active on January 1, according to Sky Sports News reporters Lyall Thomas and Rob Dorsett.
The 25-year-old is attracting heavy interest from several top Premier League clubs, and his fixed-price clause has accelerated planning behind the scenes. Semenyo has scored 29 goals in over 100 appearances for Bournemouth and has continued to grow his reputation as one of the league’s most dynamic forwards.
City are monitoring the situation very closely and, according to some insiders, are now viewed as the strongest contenders to sign him. Tottenham are also interested and remain part of the chasing pack as they explore attacking reinforcements for 2026.
Man Utd Taking Semenyo Interest Seriously
Semenyo
Manchester United have long admired Semenyo - labelled as 'one of the fastest players in the Premier League' - and have tracked his progress across multiple seasons. Sky Sports News reports that the club had not been planning to sign another forward in January, with their main strategic focus remaining on midfield recruitment for the summer.
However, the presence of a release clause - and United’s belief that Semenyo represents a rare market opportunity — has forced them to reassess their January stance. Sources have told Sky that United feel the chance to sign the Bournemouth forward for a set price is “something they must genuinely consider.”
Liverpool are also said to remain in the background, monitoring developments closely.
Financial Constraints Could Block United’s Move
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The biggest obstacle for Manchester United is financial. While the club are not currently at risk of breaching the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules, committing £65m in January would significantly impact their summer budget.
United plan to prioritise the signing of a defensive midfielder in 2026 - considered the No.1 requirement for the squad - and there is concern that activating Semenyo’s clause could compromise their ability to address that position.
Sky’s report adds that United are reluctant to enter a full bidding war with some of the Premier League’s heaviest financial hitters. While the release clause removes uncertainty around the price, competing directly with Manchester City and Tottenham - both operating with far more flexibility - remains a serious complication.
For now, United remain in the race, but only if they can structure the deal without undermining their longer-term squad plans. With January approaching and Semenyo - who has been described as being 'close to peak Sadio Mane' by one analyst - expected to be one of the market’s biggest storylines, the situation is moving quickly and the pressure is on all sides to make a decision.
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