Arsenal are unlikely to compete with Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool to sign Antoine Semenyo in the January transfer window, according to reports.
Chelsea are the latest Premier League club to have made an enquiry for the Semenyo this week but Enzo Maresca’s side face strong competition for the Bournemouth winger with United, City, Liverpool and Tottenham also holding talks.
Semenyo, who has been in excellent form this season with eight goals and three assists in the Premier League, is available due to a £65 million release clause in his contract which can be activated in the January window.
However, according to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Arsenal are not expected to be in the race to sign Semenyo next month as Mikel Arteta’s side view the deal as more of a summer move, but the 25-year-old does not want to wait.
‘Everything I learn suggests a transfer is highly possible,’ Ornstein told NBC Sports.
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‘The names that are emerging as the leading contenders right now are Manchester City and Manchester United, in no particular order, they are both extremely fond of him.
‘Liverpool are said to have had great admiration for him. They haven’t moved to the same extent so far, to my knowledge, but let’s see if anything changes around the Alexander Isak injury, because we have just broken the news that Liverpool fear that it is a significant injury to his lower left leg.
‘Tottenham were very keen and I’m led to believe were prepared to pay a significant salary to Antoine Semenyo but he is politely focusing on other options, mainly it seems City or United, and he will have to make a decision around that.
‘I think Arsenal might have looked at the situation but more towards the summer and I don’t think he’s willing to wait until that point.’
Meanwhile, talkSPORT report that Arsenal would only be open to a move for Semenyo in the January window if they offload a winger.
Speaking on Tuesday, Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola made it clear that he is keen to keep Semenyo at the club.
‘Semenyo right now is with us. He trained today with us,’ Iraola said.
‘I know that there is lots of noise around him. Not my concern, my concern is it doesn’t affect his performances. It is not doing, he is very committed to the team and I hope we can keep him here.
‘Situation we cannot control, but Antoine right now is our player. Going to continue playing for us. If you ask me, I don’t want to lose him, definitely don’t. But every time the market opens you never know what is going to happen.’
Asked if he understood the level of interest in Semenyo, Iraola replied: ‘Yes, he is performing amazingly well but lots of wingers from other teams are performing amazingly well.
‘In the league, nearly all teams have a difference maker. Especially offensively. I don’t know what is going to happen in the winter market.’
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