Rúben Amorim has hinted at the possibility of Manchester United signing Antoine Semenyo in January amid their need for reinforcements.
Last summer, Manchester United looked to proven Premier League forwards from mid-table sides to address their lack of attacking experience.
Following standout campaigns at Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brentford, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo arrived as part of Rúben Amorim’s summer rebuild and have made an instant impression.
This season, that same mid-table spotlight has fallen on Antoine Semenyo, who has been one of Bournemouth’s standout performers in the Premier League.
United explored a move for the forward last summer and even reached an agreement on personal terms, but their £50 million offer was turned down, with Semenyo instead committing to a new contract.
That deal is understood to include a £60 million release clause, with a further £5 million in add-ons, which is expected to be activated in January.
Amorim hints at possible January transfers
It’s become almost unanimous that United’s biggest priority for the two 2026 transfer windows is signing a new midfielder, particularly amid growing reports linking Manuel Ugarte to a move to Turkey in January.
Speaking on Friday afternoon, Amorim was asked whether there was money in the bank to secure signings in January, to which he said there was, but only if it was the right fit for a player.
He also pointed out that the club may choose to sign a player in a different position than their most pressing needs, as it all depended on the player’s long-term fit, hinting that a deal for someone like Semenyo could take precedence over a midfield transfer.
“We will see,” the boss explained. “The only thing we know is we will only try to bring players that we think are going to be the future. It’s not going to be to save something in this moment, to cope with the losses of three players for AFCON, it’s not going to be like that.
“Even if we try to bring one player, maybe it’s not the position that we need more. We will try to bring now and [at] the end of the season players that are perfect for our future. So, I don’t know what is going to happen, but it is possible that we can do something.”
United in the best strategic position to sign Semenyo
Semenyo is being targeted by Manchester City, United, Liverpool, and Tottenham, with some reports suggesting that all four clubs have already initiated some level of formal contact since the beginning of the campaign.
However, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano recently revealed that Spurs have not progressed in recent days with their interest. At the same time, Liverpool remain in the background as they look to sort out the future of Mo Salah.
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Similarly, City are yet to understand whether or not Pep Guardiola will be staying at the club beyond the end of this season, causing uncertainty for any player their approach to sign.
Therefore, with United holding a good relationship with the player and Amorim personally keen to secure Semenyo’s services, they have a strategic edge.
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