Manchester City are moving to add pace and power out wide, and the target could not be hotter. The Premier League champions have agreed in principle to trigger a £65m release clause, and a medical is planned this week. The player is Antoine Semenyo, Bournemouth’s Ghanaian winger who just turned 26 and might have signed off with a dramatic late winner.

According to Sky Sports, City intend to press ahead with a medical after Bournemouth’s midweek match against Tottenham, a game already being treated as the player’s likely farewell. Semenyo’s 95th-minute strike sealed a 3-2 win over Spurs and opened a 12-point gap to the drop zone – a moment that felt like both a goodbye and a statement of how far he has come.

Why Manchester City are moving now

City have injuries to manage, most notably Rúbén Dias, who Pep Guardiola says will miss four to six weeks with a hamstring problem. Guardiola added City will not repeat last January’s large spend, telling reporters: “No. Maybe we get something but it is completely different. We are not going to buy four or five players like last season.” Even so, a targeted attacking piece makes sense, and the price is set by a release clause.

Timing matters here. The £65m clause is reported to expire on Friday, so City’s move has urgency baked in. They were also, per Sky Sports, the only club to formally contact Bournemouth about triggering the clause, despite pre-Christmas interest from Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham and Chelsea. That decisive approach now places them in pole position.

“If City add Semenyo without losing Savinho or Marmoush, that front line gets scary fast.”

Antoine Semenyo’s rise: from £10m punt to £65m clause

Semenyo joined Bournemouth from Bristol City in January 2023 for around £10m. His progress since has been steady, then explosive. He scored 13 goals in all competitions in 2024‑25 and is already in double figures this season. Pace, direct running and improved end product have boosted his value – and put elite clubs on alert.

Bristol City inserted a 20% sell-on of any profit Bournemouth make. Given the growth in Semenyo’s fee, that clause now looks like a smart insurance policy. It is a reminder that sharp recruitment and patient development can pay off for different clubs along a player’s path.

Bournemouth’s stance: pride, realism and a coach’s respect

Andoni Iraola has been frank while trying to protect his dressing room. Speaking before the Spurs match, he said: “Antoine will play tomorrow, yes. I can give you my opinion, from my experience, but there is nothing signed with Antoine Semenyo.” He added: “If you ask me personally, what do you think? With all the noise, I think it could be the last game, but I cannot guarantee it.”

Afterward, in remarks relayed by Sky Sports via Goal, Iraola’s tone mixed sadness with admiration: “It seems likely, yes. Of course, there are medical checks and formalities to complete, but I regret to say that I don’t want to lose him… We’re not merely losing a fantastic player but one of the finest I’ve coached; he is prepared for anything.” That is both a tribute to Semenyo and a fair reading of the market.

“Bristol City’s 20% sell-on might be the real winner in this deal.”

How Semenyo fits at Manchester City

City’s plan, per Sky Sports, is to keep attackers Savinho and Omar Marmoush even if Semenyo signs. Oscar Bobb is currently injured, and the schedule is heavy, so adding a hard-running winger who can score and press makes sense. Guardiola did not name targets, saying after a 1-1 draw with Brighton that he’s unsure what will happen in the window, but the club’s actions are clear enough.

Semenyo offers pace and goals from wide areas. He is also in form and approaching his peak years. For a City side that values width, rotations, and direct threat to break deep blocks, this is a player profile that fits. The fee is big, but it is the cost of certainty in a crowded market.

Liverpool twist still possible — but the clock is ticking

Goal’s reporting keeps Liverpool in the £65m conversation, noting that pundit Jamie Redknapp even floated the chance of a “twist” that takes Semenyo to Anfield. The same piece frames him as a possible long-term successor to Mohamed Salah on the right. That is an eye-catching angle, but it would require fast action, especially with the clause expiring on Friday and City already pushing for a medical.

For now, City lead the race, and — crucially — they have made the only formal contact about triggering the clause. That is what separates a rumor from a real move.

“Is this a Salah succession play for Liverpool—or a block by City?”

What happens next in the £65m Semenyo deal

The next steps are straightforward: medical checks on Thursday (or Thursday/Friday) and the usual formalities. If all goes to plan, City will look to wrap up details before the clause window shuts. Until documents are signed, Bournemouth can only wait. Iraola’s comments show both belief in his player and acceptance that the market may move him on.

For Bournemouth, the upside is clear: a huge fee and a sell-on payment to Bristol City that reflects the winger’s rapid development. For City, it is about adding another dynamic option without changing their broader January approach. Guardiola has said this will not be a shopping spree; this is a focused, strategic purchase with an eye on the run-in and the injury picture.

The bigger picture

This is a snapshot of how elite teams work the margins. A release clause sets the price. A timely winner raises the spotlight. The buying club acts first and fast. And the selling club, proud of the player’s growth, balances emotion with business logic.

Antoine Semenyo may have given Bournemouth one last gift with that 95th-minute goal. Now, with a medical looming and the clause clock ticking, Manchester City are closing in. Keep an eye on Liverpool, but unless they move at speed, the champions look set to get their man.