There has been plenty of smoke recently about a potential move for Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo. The Ghana international has had a very strong start to the season, scoring 6 goals and assisting 3 more
across 11 appearances. That’s good for a goal involvement every 110 minutes. Semenyo’s performance this season has been a big part of Bournemouth’s strong start.
Reports from various sources over the last few days have stated clubs including Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Spurs all pushing to make a move for Semenyo, with some clubs potentially trying to get a deal done during the January transfer window. Some reports have also alluded to Semenyo himself wanting to move this winter. Recently, however, Semenyo stated to Sky Sports that he is aware of the speculation but that he is happy where he is and committed to Bournemouth.
I don’t think about it too much. I try to stay present as much as I can. You see the news all the time, I see it as well, I’m not oblivious, but I try to keep focused. I’m enjoying my football here. If I’m not scoring goals, all of that goes away. I try to stay present, do the best I can for the team, score goals and whatever happens in the future happens.
When they [his former team-mates] all left [in the summer], there was a lot of interest and back and forth with the club. But I knew in my head that the manager’s got something up his sleeve this year. How we finished off the season last year was so good and we could continue, especially with the players we’ve bought in as well. I wasn’t too sure at the start but we’ve kicked on like a house on fire. I’m glad I committed to staying here because I’m enjoying every moment.
With Mohamed Salah struggling for form this season, Liverpool are understandably linked to Semenyo as a long term replacement for the Egyptian legend. Local transfer mongerer Dave OCKOP has reported that Liverpool are having initial exploratory talks with Bournemouth about a transfer next summer. While Bournemouth would obviously be keen to keep ahold of the player, the club has a history of cashing in on players they bought for cheap. Semenyo was initially brought to the Cherries for £10.5 million in 2023, and are looking for somewhere around £75million just a couple of years later. Liverpool’s current sporting director, Richard Hughes, was the man who initially brought Semenyo to Bournemouth.
Bournemouth’s current General Manager, Tim Bezbatchenko, has stated that the club will always have to listed to deals when the “big” clubs come calling. He spoke on the Business of Sport podcast, and said the club will not stand in the way of players moving as long as Bournemouth can get a fair deal out of it.
“When a club like Real Madrid, Liverpool, PSG come in and they’re competing for Champions League positions, who are we to say, ‘No, you can’t go, you can’t fulfil your dream’. No it wouldn’t be like that for all clubs because not everyone is Real Madrid. But there is an opportunity and everybody wins right? I think that’s what we’re trying to find, this commonality where everybody can win.”
