Manchester United have received a boost in their interest in Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, as Rúben Amorim continues to search for fresh talent.
Manchester United are known to be interested in Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo following his fantastic rise in the Premier League over the last 18 months.
After a stellar campaign on the South Coast last season, Rúben Amorim’s side made a £50 million play for the Ghana star, with Tottenham Hotspur bidding the same, although both offers were rejected, and he signed a new contract.
It was reported at the time that Amorim and Semenyo even dined together, with United reaching an agreement on personal terms with the player, but failing to find a compromise with Bournemouth.
This contract came with a pay raise, but on the condition that a release clause was inserted. It has now emerged that this release clause is set at £65 million in January and drops in the summer.
More details on Semenyo’s release clause revealed
Further from David Ornstein’s report on Semenyo’s January release clause, The Telegraph have reported that this £65 million fee is not a guarantee, but instead the overall fee Bournemouth are aiming for.
In a financial boost to United, the clause is instead comprised of a £60 million guaranteed fee, with a further £5 million in achievable add-ons. It must be triggered before a specific date to allow Bournemouth to find an adequate replacement.
The Telegraph further reveals that, although the release clause drops in the summer, it does not fall below the £50 million mark, meaning United will have to up their offer from 2025 if they want to secure the star.
Semenyo is said to be happy at Bournemouth and is not pushing to leave in January. Still, the expectation is that he will be sold in the summer transfer window amid intense interest from across Europe.
United will have to fight off a lot of competition
While Semenyo has seemingly indicated a willingness to join United when he agreed on personal terms last summer, the club will face a major battle for his signature should they re-enter the race again at the end of the season.
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With the signings of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha last summer, United had a relatively free path as both players committed to the moves very early in the window, telling all other suitors that their priority was to complete a move to Old Trafford.
However, due to his release clause, the race for Semenyo will likely be a much more even playing field, a little like the interest in Liam Delap last summer, with the player likely to wait until the end of the season to assess his options.
If Semenyo were to join United, he would be within the ranks of Cunha, Mbeumo, Benjamin Šeško, Mason Mount, and Amad, which could make Amorim’s front line department one of the most potent attacking units in the Premier League.
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