The real reason Chelsea backed out of the race to sign Antoine Semenyo may have just emerged after Fabrizio Romano named the rival club accelerating to get their own deal done for the Bournemouth forward.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s been a remarkable day in the Semenyo<\/a> saga after Chelsea made contact with his representatives in the morning, only to withdraw their interest in the evening. With Tottenham Hotspur already discarded in the chase, that left a battle between Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United for his signature \u2013 with Arsenal also making an initial move.<\/p>\n The reporting of Chelsea\u2019s U-turn over Semenyo was dressed up with claims they still have confidence in their current options and are assessing other players who could add to their attack in 2026.<\/p>\n But the truth might simply be that they have been beaten to the punch, since Romano and David Ornstein have provided updates on a rival\u2019s chase.<\/p>\n The club in question? Manchester City<\/a>.<\/p>\n According to Romano, City \u2018have\u00a0been pushing a lot in the last 12 [hours] to try advance on Antoine Semenyo deal\u2019.<\/p>\n Sporting director Hugo Viana has been \u2018in direct talks\u2019 with Semenyo\u2019s entourage, aiming to get a \u2018final answer as soon as possible\u2019.<\/p>\n Want more breaking transfer lines from original sources? Add TEAMtalk\u00a0as a preferred source on Google\u00a0<\/strong><\/a>to your favourites list for news you can trust.<\/p>\n Ornstein: Why Semenyo wants City move<\/p>\n Shortly after Romano\u2019s update, Ornstein added that \u2018Semenyo\u2019s preference is to move to Manchester City in January\u2019.<\/p>\n As for why,\u00a0The Athletic reporter explained<\/a>: \u2018Semenyo\u2019s desire to win trophies is key to his wish to join Pep Guardiola\u2019s side.\u2019<\/p>\n Semenyo can be signed for \u00a365m in the first 10 days of January due to a release clause in his contract, but Ornstein clarifies nothing has been fully agreed yet.<\/p>\n Romano has concurred in a follow-up post on X that City \u2018are progressing to complete\u2019 a deal for Semenyo in the \u2018next days\u2019.<\/p>\n More Man City transfer news<\/p>\n Semenyo isn\u2019t the only player City are eyeing for January, since sources have confirmed they are seriously considering adding to their defensive depth<\/a>.<\/p>\n With Nathan Ake attracting interest from elsewhere in the Premier League \u2013 including from Bournemouth themselves, where he used to play \u2013 City may accelerate plans to add to their defence.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, as Semenyo nears a move to the Etihad, one attacker who could make way is Omar Marmoush, just a year after his arrival from Eintracht Frankfurt.<\/p>\n