Bournemouth are now resigned to losing the winger after a 'crazy market' developed for the 25-year-old
Manchester United are one of four clubs to have formally opened talks with Antoine Semenyo over a £65m winter window move, but they must wrap up a deal with Bournemouth by 10 January to secure the in-demand winger.
The i Paper can reveal that while the fee is set at £60m plus £5m add-ons, there will need to be negotiation over the payment terms, which are not set out in the clause.
Bournemouth could demand a significant chunk up front to pay for Semenyo’s replacement and it may come down to which of the four frontrunners in the chase are prepared to strike the best deal.
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Bournemouth had hoped to persuade him to stay, but The i Paper understands they are now resigned to losing him thanks to a “crazy market” having developed for the 25-year-old.
Why the deadline?
It is no surprise that talks have already begun because the clause agreed in the contract that Semenyo signed in the summer expires after just 10 days of the transfer window. The thinking behind that was to give the Cherries a chance to secure a replacement before the end of the month.
United, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool have all spoken to Semenyo about personal terms and to set out their plans for the Ghana international.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 15: Antoine Semenyo of Bournemouth before the Premier League match between Manchester United and Bournemouth at Old Trafford on December 15, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)
Antoine Semenyo’s Bournemouth played Man Utd at Old Trafford on Monday (Photo: Getty)
It is United who are now seen as the frontrunners having missed out on bringing Semenyo to Old Trafford in the summer. Their offers back then, both in terms of the transfer fee and his personal terms, dipped below what Bournemouth and the player expected.
United had not planned to do any business in the January window, but maintained all along that should interest in one of their top targets increase, they are in a position to move now.
They have their shortlist and want to stick to it, given their woeful transfer market record in recent years. The club’s hierarchy have identified three midfield targets – Carlos Baleba, Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton – who they will move for in the summer.
Semenyo’s fine start to the season has convinced Old Trafford officials to make a big play for him in January. Ruben Amorim has openly admitted he is looking to bring in a player similar to Amad Diallo, one who can operate on the opposite flank as a wide forward or a wing-back. Semenyo fits that brief perfectly.
City are also in the market for a winger and are prepared to fast-track their offer too. They originally preferred a summer move for Semenyo, because then the clause would have lowered to £55m. The prospect of waiting another six months is now unrealistic.
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As revealed by The i Paper in October, Liverpool are also looking at Semenyo as a potential rival or replacement for Mo Salah.
But their priority appears to lie in strengthening their defence in January, with Marc Guehi top of their wishlist.
Tottenham are also long-term admirers of Semenyo and are looking at ways to address their inconsistent form this season. However, they are understood to be outsiders at this stage.