Man Utd and Man City in direct talks for Bournemouth’s Semenyo Romano

Manchester United and Manchester City are locked in active negotiations over a January move for Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo, with Fabrizio Romano reporting direct contacts from both clubs as the player weighs his next step.

Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Manchester United and Manchester City have both held fresh talks with Antoine Semenyo’s camp over a potential January transfer, describing the situation as a “direct battle” between the two Manchester clubs for the Bournemouth forward. According to multiple reports, both sides made contact over the weekend to clarify the conditions of a deal and to understand the player’s priorities ahead of the winter window.

Semenyo, 25, has emerged as one of the most in-demand attacking players in the Premier League this season after a standout first half of the campaign with Bournemouth. The Ghana international has recorded around eight goals and three assists in 16 league appearances, including eye-catching performances and goals against top-six opponents, which have strengthened the perception that he is ready for a move to a Champions League-level club.

Financially, the race is expected to be defined by Semenyo’s release clause. Several outlets report that his contract includes a clause in the region of £60m plus up to £5m in add-ons – effectively around £65m – that is only valid during the opening phase of the January window, believed to be roughly the first ten days of the month. Bournemouth are understood to be prepared for the clause to be activated but will push to maximise the overall package, including add-ons and payment structure, if multiple bids arrive.

Romano and other transfer reporters add that Semenyo has already cooled interest from at least one other Premier League club – widely reported as Tottenham Hotspur – and is currently focused on options from the two Manchester sides, with Liverpool monitoring the situation as a possible late entrant depending on the outcome of their own attacking injury issues. Arsenal are also said to be tracking the player but are not expected to move in January.

For Manchester United, Semenyo is viewed as a versatile wide forward who can inject direct running and productivity into Ruben Amorim’s attack, but any move is also linked to outgoings: Romano has reported that progress on talks to offload Joshua Zirkzee, potentially to Roma, could help create room in the squad and wage bill for a new attacker. Manchester City, meanwhile, see Semenyo as a powerful depth option across the frontline and have reportedly held face-to-face talks as they plan for long-term succession in their wide positions. 

With the release-clause window set to open at the start of January and both Manchester clubs “pushing” for a decision, Semenyo’s future is expected to be resolved quickly once the market opens. For Bournemouth, losing one of their key performers mid-season would be a major sporting blow, but the size of the fee on offer – and the player’s desire to take the next step – means that a high-profile move now looks increasingly likely.