Why Semenyo Would Be A Shrewd Addition To The Manchester Sides

As of late December 2025, Antoine Semenyo has become the defining opportunity of the January transfer window. This is not a typical mid-season market scramble driven by injuries or short-term panic. It is a rare alignment of timing, availability, and clause structure that has placed one of the Premier League’s most productive attackers within reach of elite clubs.

Bournemouth’s forward is not being sold by choice. His £65 million release clause, active only during the first half of January 2026, has created a narrow window in which interested clubs must either commit fully or walk away.

Manchester United and Manchester City are the only sides engaged in direct discussions, reflecting both the price point and the clarity required in role definition. Tottenham have stepped back, largely due to concerns over fit relative to cost. Liverpool’s interest remains passive, tied to uncertainty surrounding Mohamed Salah’s future rather than an immediate tactical need.

While Semenyo is Ghanaian, his availability this January is unusually clean. Ghana’s failure to qualify for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations removes the usual mid-season absence risk that often discourages January investment in African forwards. That anomaly has significantly increased his appeal.

For Manchester City, the attraction is precise rather than speculative. Guardiola’s current wide options, Savinho, Doku, and Bobb, are excellent at carrying the ball, destabilizing defensive structures, and creating advantages in wide areas. What they have not consistently provided is decisive goal output, although Doku has shown signs of improvement in that regard this season.

City do not struggle to reach the final third. They struggle to convert territorial dominance into goals from the wings. This is the gap Semenyo fits into.

Semenyo offers directness. He attacks the box early, commits defenders, and finishes actions rather than extending them. Guardiola does not need him to dominate possession or dictate rhythm. He needs a wide player who treats the penalty area as a destination rather than a reference point.

In City’s common 3-2-5 or 2-3-5 attacking structures, Semenyo would operate high and wide, isolating full-backs, attacking the back post, and arriving in scoring positions with minimal touches. He might not be signed as an automatic starter but as a specialist solution to a clearly identified problem.

Manchester United’s interest is more complex and carries greater risk. Under Ruben Amorim, United are attempting to stabilize a system rather than add finishing touches. Semenyo’s versatility is appealing. He can operate on either wing or centrally, which provides coverage across the front line. His uninterrupted availability during the AFCON period this year further strengthens his case compared to alternative options. However, his arrival would not be neutral within the existing hierarchy.

In Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 structure, Semenyo profiles most naturally as the left-sided attacking midfielder, operating between the lines rather than as a traditional touchline winger. With Cunha leading the line, this positioning would inevitably affect Benjamin Sesko’s role, shifting him toward rotation or situational usage rather than guaranteed minutes. This is not a judgment on Sesko’s quality but a reflection of how roles overlap within the system.

Semenyo’s physical profile, standing at 185 cm, combined with his ability to find space in broken phases, makes him particularly valuable in transition. Amorim’s preferred vertical patterns rely on forwards who can receive, lay off, and immediately attack space, and Semenyo fits that demand cleanly.

Where the United risk becomes acute is role misuse. The idea of deploying Semenyo as a left wing-back should be dismissed outright. He is an attacker by trade and instinct. Asking him to operate in a deep defensive channel would drain his energy, expose his defensive weaknesses, and remove him from the zones where he is most valuable.

This is not theoretical. Semenyo has been directly involved in nearly a third of Bournemouth’s goals this season. Moving him thirty yards further from goal would neutralize the very output United would be paying a premium to acquire.

United have recent experience with this problem. Attempts to convert attacking players into defensively responsible wide roles(Amad) have not always yielded the best results against elite opposition.

The issue is not effort but positioning, timing, and defensive awareness, skills that are learned through repetition, not reassignment. Adding another attacker to a role that demands defensive reliability would repeat an established mistake rather than correct it.

From a player profile perspective, Semenyo is easy to define. He is direct, two-footed, and physically strong, with a slight preference for his right foot but no functional weakness on his left. He thrives when attacking the blindside of full-backs, arriving unseen rather than engaging in prolonged duels. He does not require high touch volume to influence matches, which makes him adaptable across different systems.

Financially, the £65 million release clause represents a clear January premium. However, it also removes negotiation friction and uncertainty.

With double-digit goal contributions before the season midpoint, Semenyo’s valuation is trending toward a significantly higher figure in a summer market. At his age and contract profile, the deal carries resale protection, even if the tactical fit is imperfect.

The verdict ultimately comes down to role discipline. Manchester City offer the cleaner environment, a higher floor, and a clearly defined use case. Semenyo would be a targeted addition, not a system stress test.

Manchester United offer a higher ceiling but sharper risk. Used correctly, he could become a foundational attacker in Amorim’s project. Used incorrectly, particularly outside attacking zones, he risks becoming another high-cost misfit.

This transfer is less about talent evaluation and more about structural honesty. Semenyo will succeed where his role is precise, protected, and close to goal.