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Could Antoine Semenyo be the next big Premier League move this January?

Every transfer window, there are a number of players who are expected to be hot property as they are linked with huge moves. As January approaches, Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo is seldom out of the headlines and for good reason.

The 25-year-old has been one of the Cherries’ best players for some time now, but this season he has really stepped up to become their talisman, with nine Premier League goal involvements in just 13 matches. It was rather surprising to see him stay at the Vitality Stadium last summer after an impressive first campaign under Andoni Iraola; there were a number of big sales including Milos Kerkez, who joined Liverpool, Dean Huijsen, now at Real Madrid and Ilya Zabarnyi, who signed for Paris Saint-Germain.

But Semenyo signed a new contract at the height of speculation around his future and a host of top clubs chasing him; it felt unnatural that he would commit his future to Bournemouth at that time without a route out should he need it, with all due respect to them.

The club’s entire model is built on the idea of attracting talented players to the club and showcasing them in the Premier League, thus helping them climb the table and challenge for Europe while raising the stock of the squad. Huijsen, Kerkez and Zabarnyi are all examples of the system working, but losing Semenyo at the same time would have been a big ask, especially with Iraola himself garnering attention from interested parties too. Recently, it emerged that the Ghanaian’s new deal includes a £65m release clause, with Liverpool and Manchester City keen to activate it.

Perhaps it won’t happen in January; Semenyo is not likely to force the issue with Bournemouth in contention for Champions League but, more to the point, he may not need to. City and Liverpool both have obvious need for him immediately, and even looking beyond the stats, it is clear to see every time he plays that he is ready for a big move. While it may be unfair on Bournemouth, it is the natural way of things, especially when profit and reinvestment are so critical to their future development in their own right.

Liverpool will have taken notice, if they hadn’t already, on the opening day of the season when Semenyo dragged Bournemouth back into the game at Anfield. Although the Reds won late on, his performance was clearly on their level. At the time, there was so much hope and expectation around their season off the back of a £450m summer spend after winning the Premier League; Mohamed Salah, their talisman, had just signed a new contract too. But with the team struggling to click and Salah’s impact minimal, there is a focus on replacing him.

Signing somebody to take on the mantle for Salah is impossible, but there is a belief that Liverpool brought in Alexander Isak – a striker at the peak of his powers – to replace his star power. Semenyo’s power and directness would make him an ideal player to fit into Arne Slot’s team. But the same could also be said for City under Pep Guardiola, and there is an argument that he would be a better fit at the Etihad Stadium, and even a pivotal signing in their new era.

Back in January 2018, City, on the charge towards their first title under Guardiola, signed Riyad Mahrez from Leicester City. Although he was a star for the Foxes, he didn’t immediately give the impression he would take City to a different level. But because his style of play – skilful, energetic and creative – embodied the team he was joining, he went on to play a crucial role in a really successful time. Guardiola has changed the emphasis in his team seven years on; now they are geared towards getting the best from Erling Haaland, the most feared striker in the world. He thrives on powerful service, driving forward at pace and balls in behind, all of which are critical elements of Semenyo’s game.

It is far too simplistic to say that a move for Semenyo could help decide the title race given Liverpool’s current position and the fact that Arsenal, the current leaders, are stacked with quality on the right wing. He may well stay at Bournemouth, too, but the reality is their plan has always been to secure a good profit and when he eventually leaves, he will be ready to thrive at the highest level.