The recent transfer window for Manchester United and Ruben Amorim was a busy one with Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko and Diego Leon arriving.
It was clear INEOS were ready to heavily back the Portuguese manager after a tough first season with bolstering the attack being a priority.
As tends to be the case with transfer windows all the high profile clubs are in for the best, most attractive targets in hope they work out.
Antoine Semenyo was a player on United’s radar since March. According to Duncan Castles speaking on his Transfer Podcast Special, Chief Executive Officer Omar Berrada and Director of Football Jason Wilcox had several conversations with Bournemouth.
Semenyo had even agreed personal terms with Manchester United and Ruben Amorim shared a meal with the player in London at the end of the season.
The move fell through when the winger discovered he had agreed a salary that was 70% less than what they were prepared to Mbeumo and Cunha. The Cherries smartly used this to convince him to stay and sign a contract till 2030.
Speaking on his podcast Duncan Castles gave more information on the player’s possible move to Old Trafford ‘During conversations between Bournemouth and Manchester United, I’m told United said they would pay no more than £55 million for the player, they had used the same strategy for Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo. They agreed personal terms with Semenyo before discussing a move with Bournemouth.’
Castles also clarified that Bournemouth insisted on a higher transfer fee as Tottenham Hotspur were also interested in the player and the Cherries used the Cunha deal as a precedent for a transfer fee that they wanted.
Semenyo has already scored twice this season as one of the League’s most powerful, coveted forwards.
If he is to continue this rich vein of form, his stock is sure to rise as well as the clubs looking to sign him.
Not everything can be solved in one transfer window and it may be the case that United return at some point later on in the future for the stalwart winger.
