Antoine Semenyo transfer news: Liverpool? Man Utd? Man City? Has Alexander Isak's injury changed Bournemouth winger's situation?
Antoine Semenyo will be one of the most sought-after players in the January transfer window; Man City and Manchester United are at the front of the queue but Liverpool are also interested - so where will the Bournemouth winger end up in 2026?
Monday 22 December 2025 15:41, UK
Manchester United, Manchester City or Liverpool? The race for Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo is on a knife edge.
Manchester United and Manchester City are still ahead of other clubs and remain neck-and-neck for his signature.
But Liverpool remain interested and are understood to be considering their options in the wake of Alexander Isak's injury.
- Your club's plans in January | Transfer Centre LIVE!
- Got Sky? Watch now on the Sky Sports app📱
- Not got Sky? Get instant access with no contract📺
Sky Sports News understands that Semenyo could make a decision on his future today.
Spurs, who were interested in the Bournemouth forward over the summer and earlier this season, are moving onto other targets and out of the race.
So what will happen regarding Semenyo now? Sky Sports News transfer reporters Kaveh Solhekol and Dharmesh Sheth discussed the forward's future on The Transfer Show on Monday:
Option No 1: Liverpool
Sky Sports News' Kaveh Solhekol:
"If Liverpool come in for him, he'll go to Liverpool. Liverpool is too good a move to turn down. They have been big admirers of him. They have looked at signing him before.
"They also have a track record of signing players in January. Luis Diaz looked like he was going to Tottenham and at the last minute Liverpool came in for him. Cody Gakpo looked like he was going to Manchester United.
"Liverpool don't get involved in a bidding war. They wait until the last minute, until other clubs almost do a deal for a player and then they make a phone call to say they will match the deal.
"Liverpool are expected to have a quiet January. There is money to spend. Sometimes they move quickly to get a summer target in if they think they are going to go somewhere else.
"Over the next few days, especially in light of Isak's injury, there will be discussions over whether they make a late move for Semenyo."
Option No 2: Man City
Kaveh Solhekol:
"If I'm Antoine Semenyo. I'm looking at that Man City squad and thinking, dream come true to sign for Man City. On the other hand, how much game time am I going to get if I move there?
"I'm not really sure there is a desperate need for them to spend money in January.
"Another interesting subplot is Pep Guardiola's future. He signed a new contract that takes him to the summer of 2027, but there is talks already that he might call it a day this summer.
"What impact could that have on Manchester City's transfer plans? As much as we say clubs buy players, Guardiola has been there for so long that he will have a say in which players come to the club."
Option No 3: Man Utd
Sky Sports News' Dharmesh Sheth:
"Ruben Amorim has consistently said that the club will make moves in the January transfer window provided it is in the long-term interest of Manchester United.
"They have kept a keen eye on Semenyo's development. That interest goes further back than the summer transfer window.
"Semenyo signed a new contract in the summer that included a release clause of £65m. That release clause is only valid in the first half of January. That's because if someone triggers the release clause, Bournemouth want time to find a replacement.
"There is then a lower release clause in the summer transfer window. Expect some sort of movement in the first half of this transfer window.
"The interesting thing with Semenyo is if United were to sign him, where Amorim would want to play him.
"Is he going to take over from either of Cunha or Mbeumo? It's very unlikely. Is it the left-wing back position that Amorim has cited Semenyo? And would Semenyo be happy playing in that position?"
Analysis: The case for or against each team
Sky Sports' Sam Blitz:
Liverpool - there are two sides to this particular route: short-term and long-term.
Semenyo would be an excellent addition for Liverpool right now, with injuries to Isak and Gakpo - plus Salah's departure to AFCON - leaving Arne Slot's side short in attack for the coming weeks.
That's the short-term, but the long-term vision of Semenyo at Anfield is more complicated. Should Salah leave, then Semenyo could be deemed the natural heir to the Egyptian's role at Anfield.
But what happens if Salah and Slot put their issues aside and the former returns to form? Then once Gakpo and Isak return from injury, where would Semenyo fit in with Hugo Ekitike as well?
Man City - this would be another interesting question regarding squad competition. With everyone fit, would Semenyo get into Man City team right now?
Guardiola has finally managed to settle his squad with Rayan Cherki, Phil Foden and Jeremy Doku acting as the perfect trio behind Erling Haaland.
However, there is a argument that squad depth is still an issue. The recent 2-0 loss to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League showed how the floor of City's squad could do with a lift - and Semenyo could help that.
Man Utd - Amorim spent around £200m on bringing in Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha over the summer, and now he wants to add more attacking quality to his ranks?
Perhaps a potential January departure for Joshua Zirkzee could open up a spot in the United squad for Semenyo to fill?
One area Semenyo could play is at wing-back, especially with his qualities out wide. But could he play there with Amad Diallo on the other flank? Would that be too attacking?
Bournemouth - Another possibility for Semenyo could be to stay at the Vitality Stadium until the end of the season, especially if his desired team stalls this month.
But the Cherries are a long way off being the European contenders they were last season. With Andoni Iraola's future never certain and Bournemouth's form needing to pick up, there are a few dominoes needing to fall at the south coast.
