Manchester United appear to have distanced themselves from a January move for Antoine Semenyo, despite mounting Premier League competition for the Bournemouth forward and an increasingly active transfer market surrounding his ÂŁ65 million release clause. The Manchester Evening News reports that while United retain admiration for the 25-year-old, the club is not preparing an imminent bid and is instead prioritising other areas of the squad.
Semenyo’s form this season has been exceptional, with six goals and three assists in just 12 Premier League appearances. His explosiveness, versatility and relentless work rate have triggered interest from several top-flight sides, but United’s stance has cooled in recent days as they narrow their January focus.
Ruben Amorim is eager to strengthen in forward areas long-term, yet the club’s recruitment team believe that a mid-season move for Semenyo may not represent the best use of resources given other structural priorities. United currently face uncertainty over multiple squad members, including Casemiro, Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee, while the looming Africa Cup of Nations threatens to stretch the squad in different positions.
Meanwhile, competitors are moving with greater intent. Manchester City are described as “serious contenders,” having made formal enquiries and assessed the feasibility of triggering the £65m clause early in the window. Pep Guardiola and his staff view Semenyo as a dynamic addition capable of operating across multiple forward roles.
Tottenham Hotspur have also intensified their pursuit, with Sky Sports reporting that Spurs are “stepping up” efforts to beat their rivals. After being deterred by Bournemouth’s valuation last summer, Tottenham are now more willing to meet the current asking price and potentially force a bidding contest during the opening days of January.
Liverpool retain long-standing interest and regard Semenyo as a potential long-term successor to Mohamed Salah. However, the Reds are simultaneously preparing “Plan B” options due to the strength of interest from Manchester City and Spurs — a sign of how competitive the race has become.
United, in contrast, are treading carefully. The Manchester Evening News notes that while Semenyo is admired internally, the club is “not pushing” at this stage and appear reluctant to enter a January bidding war. Financial strategy, the need for midfield clarity and the uncertain future of several forwards are factors contributing to the more cautious stance.
Semenyo’s contract situation adds further intrigue. His £65m release clause is widely understood to be time-limited, with some reports claiming it is only active during the opening week of January or must be triggered by a specific internal deadline. A separate report also suggests the clause drops to around £50m in the summer of 2026 — a detail that could dramatically alter the market landscape.
Bournemouth are braced for impact regardless. The club expect concrete approaches due to the winger’s electric form, and the presence of a sell-on clause means former club Bristol City could net around £11 million if the release fee is met. The Cherries would ideally prefer a January sale to maximise their return before the clause reportedly drops next year.
For now, United intend to maintain a watching brief rather than aggressive pursuit. Amorim remains open to adding attackers, but the club’s decision-makers want clarity on outgoing business and squad balance before approving major moves.
With the likes of City, Liverpool and Spurs accelerating their plans, United may yet re-enter the conversation later in the window, especially if market dynamics shift. But at this stage, Old Trafford sources have quietly played down talk of a push for Semenyo — even as Premier League rivals position themselves for what could become one of January’s defining transfer battles.