Manchester United boss Rúben Amorim is known to be a big fan of Bournemouth star Antonie Semenyo, who is almost certainly on the move this summer.
Antonie Semenyo looks set to be one of the most sought-after players in the coming 2026 summer transfer windows as Rúben Amorim looks for further attacking reinforcements.
Manchester United signed two Premier League stars last summer, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, to improve their forward line, paying a premium for the English-experienced players to allow them to settle in quickly.
This is a policy that Jason Wilcox, United’s Director of Football, has previously admitted is deliberate, as the club believes that signing players with Premier League experience guarantees their quality.
Semenyo has started his season at Bournemouth with stunning performances, scoring six goals and providing three assists in 12 appearances. Reports have revealed that he has a £65 million release clause in his contract for January, which is set to decrease in the summer.
What Amorim has told confidants about Semenyo
Reports in the summer claimed that United had agreed on personal terms with Semenyo, but after rejecting a £50 million offer for the player, the move broke down, and the club pursued other targets.
Regardless, the above report claimed that Amorim even dined with the player at the end of last season, undoubtedly in a bid to help convince the Ghanaian international that Old Trafford should be his preferred destination.
It was also reported that Amorim had revealed in private that he is “very fond” of the 25-year-old, with the club’s interest dating back to at least March of this year.
While United’s only significant competitor for Semenyo last summer was Tottenham Hotspur, his release clause changes the game. At what is no doubt a reasonable price for such a talented star, the likes of Liveropol, Arsenal, and other European giants will be paying close attention to developments.
Where would Semenyo play at Old Trafford?
The only caveat with United’s interest in Semenyo is that, unlike last summer, there is no clear place in the starting XI for the talented forward.
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Last summer, United ditched five attacking players and brought in Cunha, Mbeumo, and Benjamin Šeško to improve the quality in their front line, with Semenyo also a potential addition. However, with the former two now in place, it’s hard to see where Semenyo would fit in.
There have been calls among the United faithful for Semenyo to be used as a left wing-back, in a similar role to how Amad is deployed on the right-hand side, but this may not be favourable to the 25-year-old.
With the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal possibly needing left-sided reinforcements in January or next summer, Amorim will have a steep job on his hands if he wants to convince Semenyo that Old Trafford is where he should be playing football in 2026.
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