Man United willing to go the extra mile for Antoine Semenyo as Fabrizio Romano names transfer favourites
Man Utd are going head to head with Man City for Antoine Semenyo with Ruben Amorim willing to make a drastic sacrifice.
In days gone by, if Manchester United wanted a player they would get them, although Ruben Amorim might have more difficulty than Sir Alex Ferguson used to have when persuading players.
The Red Devils manager is set to go toe-to-toe with Pep Guardiola in the race for Antoine Semenyo’s signature who is almost certain to leave Bournemouth in the early stages of the January transfer window. A £65m release clause is tempting to the extent that Amorim is willing to do something that he has almost vowed never to entertain since arriving at Old Trafford.
Ruben Amorim willing to change for Antoine Semenyo
Semenyo is a winger, a breed of player who Amorim has chased out of the club since arriving at the club, however, according to Fabrizio Romano, speaking to GiveMeSport, the manager is willing to make room for the Ghana international rather than putting a square peg into a round hole: "Manchester United are pushing and ready to change the system if they can convince Semenyo."
Amorim still has the players who could accommodate a formation shift and to play Semenyo on the wing with Bryan Mbeumo capable of playing on the right and Matheus Cunha as a no.10 behind Benjamin Sesko. It might even help to protect the midfield and the defence with more cover centrally and in wide areas.
Man Utd v Man City for Antoine Semenyo
Transfer supremo Romano explained in more depth about the battle between United and Man City for Semenyo and what talks have taken place to land the 25-year old. Romano said on his YouTube channel: “Man Utd have made a decision that’s internal but also public. Ruben Amorim explained that in January Man Utd will not go for short-term solutions. Amorim said in public but also in private in meetings with United directors ‘I don’t want players for two, three months and then we already know in April he’s going back to his club in the summer.’
“Amorim wants signings for the future, signings for the long-term. Man Utd will not sign a player who’ll [play for] maybe two, three months, maybe 10 games and then leaving. Amorim wants a different approach, and if he has to ‘suffer’ by injuries and absences then he’s ready to do that. But in the case of January signings he wants important players for present and future, not just the present or short-term. That’s the mission.
“Man Utd are pushing and pushing and pushing to try and get a deal done for Antoine Semenyo. Man Utd vs Manchester City – this is the situation as of today. Because also today contacts took place between Semenyo’s camp and Man Utd and Man City. The two clubs are pushing, presenting their projects and financial opportunities for the player.” City are considered to be favourites given their more stable circumstances, but it doesn’t take long for a transfer to change.
In terms of need, United’s is greater, and a change of formation to get more creativity and goalscorers in the team could be exactly what Amorim needs.