Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo’s preference is to move to Manchester City in January.
Semenyo’s desire to win trophies is key to his wish to join Pep Guardiola’s side.
As yet nothing formal has been agreed, with the January transfer window not open for another week.
The Athletic reported on Tuesday Chelsea had decided against pursuing a move for Semenyo, 25, after making an initial enquiry.
Manchester United also tried their best to sign the forward, but a move in January was always going to be a stretch and the club only wished to bring in players who are eager to join. The decision was not due to Ruben Amorim’s system, with United never planning to play Semenyo at wing-back.
Tottenham Hotspur looked into a deal for the forward in the summer and The Athletic reported in the Transfer DealSheet in December that he was also among several players admired by Liverpool.
Semenyo has enjoyed a strong 2025-26 campaign, providing eight goals and three assists in 16 Premier League appearances.
His contract with Bournemouth, which runs until 2030, contains a £65million release clause in January – as revealed by The Athletic on November 17.
The Ghana international was valued at £70m by Bournemouth in the summer, but the sale price for the winter is now formally set at £65m. It must be activated by a specific date, which would give Bournemouth a couple of weeks to replace their best player, and is available to any team. If he remains with the club in January, the mechanism will again be available once the subsequent transfer window opens, at an even lower figure.
Bournemouth sold several key players in the summer following a successful 2024-25 season under Andoni Iraola.
Centre-back Dean Huijsen moved to Real Madrid in May when the La Liga club capitalised on a £50m clause. Bournemouth also sold left-back Milos Kerkez, central defender Illia Zabarnyi and winger Dango Ouattara. A year earlier, Dominic Solanke, who himself had a £65m exit provision, left to join Tottenham.
Semenyo has made 106 appearances for Bournemouth since signing from Championship side Bristol City in January 2023, recording 30 goals and 13 assists.
Why are City targeting Semenyo?
Analysis from The Athletic’s Manchester City Correspondent Jordan Campbell
A hallmark of every Pep Guardiola team has been incisive wide players who can eliminate opponents in one-versus-one situations and contribute double figures in goals.
As much as Jeremy Doku looks to be improving his end product, Guardiola admitted in his press conference after the 3-0 win against Liverpool that it is unlikely the Belgium winger will ever be one of City’s top scorers.
Savinho and Oscar Bobb do not quite have the killer instinct in the final third yet, either. It means City have not quite replaced the output of Riyad Mahrez, or even Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling.
The reliance on Erling Haaland has become pronounced, and Semenyo would offer a direct threat from either wing, improving City on the counter-attack.
City are developing into title contenders. Adding Semenyo would be a statement, the arrival of a peak-age player who could be relied upon to be a match-winner.