Man Utd can grant Semenyo wish in secret weapon for £65m transfer | Football | Sport

Manchester United are reportedly considering offering Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo his favoured No. 24 shirt in an attempt to entice him to Old Trafford in the January transfer window. The Red Devils are said to be keen on signing the Ghana international from the south coast club this winter, and may have an advantage over other interested parties.

Semenyo, 25, has scored six goals and provided three assists in 11 Premier League games this season. As a result, he is increasingly being linked with a mid-season switch to United, and the availability of his preferred shirt number could play a part in negotiations.

The No. 24 shirt is currently worn by goalkeeper Andre Onana, who is on loan at Trabzonspor until the end of the season. However, United may not hesitate to make it available for Semenyo.

Tottenham, a rival for Semenyo’s signature, currently have their No. 24 worn by Djed Spence and could be less likely to take his number away as a key player.

This small gesture could be key in their chase for one of the most in-demand players in the league at present. Onana’s future at United appears uncertain after a series of mistakes damaged his standing, and the success of Senne Lammens has only made his position more unstable.

The summer signing from Royal Antwerp has been a revelation in United colours so far. So much so that Onana, who cost £43.4million when he joined former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag in 2023, already seems surplus to requirements.

Semenyo’s potential availability in January has sparked a flurry of speculation after it was disclosed that the player has a £65m release clause in his Bournemouth contract. The winger signed a new contract on the south coast over the summer, but it’s believed he only did so with the understanding that the Cherries would include a release clause.

This suggests Semenyo, who has previously indicated his preference to join Arsenal, would be open to a move if the right opportunity arises. And the £65m figure presents a fairly realistic price for the biggest spenders in England’s top flight.

However, there may still be concerns about whether United could afford such an expenditure midway through the season. Ruben Amorim‘s side brought in Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko for a combined fee of around £200m, raising questions about where Semenyo would fit into the XI without benching one of those players.

That said, Semenyo has demonstrated his versatility in virtually any attacking role, including the No. 10 position.

One solution could see him take that slot off Bruno Fernandes‘ hands and relegate the Portugal star to a deeper midfield role.