To stay neck and neck with Arsenal at the top of the Premier League standings, Manchester City could strike a big blow as early as January. While they are now five points behind the London leader, the Cityzens will experience a more complicated end to the year, since they will be deprived of Omar Marmoush for almost five weeks for the Africa Cup of Nations. And with Jérémy Doku, only returning to form in recent weeks, Savinho and Oscar Bobb, who are disappointing this season, Manchester City is considering an offensive arrival.
According to information from Timesthe Skyblues are considering recruiting Bournemouth sensation: Antoine Semenyo. Indeed, the Cityzens are seriously studying the possibility of triggering the release clause of 74 million euros for the Cherries winger, who, at 25, is already the author of six goals and three assists in 12 games this season, the fifth top scorer in the Premier League. His versatility, capable of playing on both wings and sometimes up front, perfectly matches the profile that Pep Guardiola is looking for to strengthen his attack.
Pep Guardiola wants to avoid Haaland-dependence
Liverpool also followed the player closely, notably under the eye of Richard Hughes, their sporting director, who had recruited him from Bournemouth, but after a turbulent summer with more than 400 million expenses, the Reds do not seem to want to strike hard on the winter market. For their part, City believe that he could bring a little more offensive variety to their squad which is too dependent on Erling Haaland and that his arrival would also ease the pressure on Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva, often aligned on the wings despite their more central role.
The timing seems ideal for City. Semenyo’s clause will become active in January and no international obstacle should slow down his transfer since Ghana missed qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations. It remains to be seen whether the Cityzens will take the plunge and offer themselves this rising talent to energize their attack. Because despite the crazy form of Erling Haaland, author of 14 goals in 13 matches, Phil Foden is the only other Manchester City player to have scored more than one goal in the Premier League this season.
