Latest Manchester United transfer news and gossip with an update on the future of Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo
Mark has been a football journalist since 2017 and has contributed to several publications including the Liverpool Echo, Manchester Evening News and football.london. He also spent eight months on the US Sports team for the Mirror US
Antoine Semenyo of Bournemouth(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
The summer transfer window has only just closed and Manchester United are already being linked with signings they could make in January.
There are still almost four months to wait before the New Year arrives and the transfer window reopens. At that point, United are likely to be linked with several potential new signings, with one name already being mentioned as a possible target.
Reports on Thursday claimed that Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo was a target for the Reds in the summer, with talk of a £55million price tag. Whether a move in January could be revisited remains to be seen, but there is now likely to be speculation that a deal could be agreed in the New Year.
If that does happen, the signing of Semenyo would certainly strengthen the forward options currently available to Ruben Amorim at United. Semenyo plays on the right wing for Bournemouth, but is also capable of performing on the left just as easily.
After United signed Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko, the club certainly has a wealth of options in the final third for the season ahead. Adding Semenyo to their ranks in January could see a dream forward line be named by United.
Sesko would be expected to play as the centre forward, and could have Semenyo operating on the left of the two number ten positions with Mbeumo on the right. Cunha could then drop deeper into midfield should there be any injuries to Bruno Fernandes.
Although Amorim has stuck to his guns so far and not shifted away from his preferred 3-4-3 formation, a 4-2-3-1 could see Cunha utilised a No.10 role behind Sesko to help provide creativity in the midfield and final third for United. That would allow the Brazilian, Mbeumo, Semenyo and Sesko to all take to the field at one time.
United also have Joshua Zirkzee and Amad, who provide even more options to Amorim in the final third. Even though United have seen Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Antony, Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund leave the club, the signing of Semenyo would still give the Portuguese head coach plenty of options in the final third.
Manchester United dream forward line: Cunha, Mbeumo, Semenyo; Sesko (in a 4-2-3-1).
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