Manchester City have emerged as the frontrunners to sign Antoine Semenyo.
City are thought to be Semenyo’s current preference, although a full deal has not yet been reached.
Liverpool and Manchester United remain interested and there is still work to be done.
Chelsea announced their interest on Tuesday but will not pursue a move in January. They believe they have sufficient forces across the front.
Semenyo’s contract has a release clause of £65 million, which comes into effect from January 1.
The 25-year-old will join Bournemouth’s squad to face Brentford on Saturday.
Tottenham were interested in the Bournemouth forward in the summer and early this season, but have since moved on to other targets and have withdrawn from the race.
Semenyo, 25, has scored eight goals in the Premier League this season, including his last two games for Bournemouth.
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Antoine Semenyo scores Bournemouth’s equalizer in the Premier League match against Manchester United
Iraora: There are things happening that are beyond our control.
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Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola admits he is uncertain about Antoine Semenyo’s future at the club, but says he wants to keep his star player.
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola on Semenyo’s future:
“Antoine Semenyo is with us now, he’s playing very well. What I’m worried about is whether it’s affecting him. He’s playing very well and he’s committed to the team, so I hope we can keep him. There are things happening that are out of our control.
“Antoine has been performing very well. The level of consistency since the beginning of the season has been very good. He is very valuable to us. In many ways, not just numbers.”
“You never know what’s going to happen. There was a lot of movement in the summer, but you never know what’s going to happen in the winter.
“In the end you sign the contract and you understand that both sides are happy. I hope we don’t lose him, but I don’t know. I can’t control what happens.”
Semenyo’s Bournemouth teammate Justin Kluivert also told Sky Sports News: “He showed how good he is. He’s a top player. One of the best attacking players in the Premier League.”
“He doesn’t let it go to the front of his mind. That’s a very positive aspect. We talk about all these things that happen to him, but he’s down to earth. He gives 100 per cent every day to Bournemouth and that says a lot about him.”
Antoine Semenyo celebrates after scoring for Bournemouth
Merce urges Spurs to complete ‘statement’ signing of Semenyo
Although the pursuit of Semenyo has ended, manager Paul Merson believes Tottenham are the best fit for Semenyo and has urged Thomas Frank to complete a “statement” deal with the Bournemouth winger.
He told Sky Sports: “Tottenham. They need to make a real important contract to kick-start them. Tottenham have the wage structure, they’re not paying a lot of money, but this could kick-start them.”
“For me, Tottenham would be that candidate. It would be a statement for Tottenham and a catalyst for them moving forward over the next five, 10 years.”
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Paul Merson believes Antoine Semenyo is better suited to Spurs than clubs like Manchester United or Liverpool.
“He doesn’t have it as good as some of the other clubs. He’ll play every week and he wants to play football. Playing every week gives him consistency.
“But I think he suits them. Chelsea already have a lot of wingers,[Alejandro]Garnacho,[Pedro]Neto,[Jamie]Gittens, Estevao. And he’s 26 years old, so I don’t think he’ll be popular.”
“At Man United he will play wing-back. It’s not his favorite position. He wouldn’t want to play wing-back.”
“Man City, how long will Josep Guardiola be there? You sign a four-year contract and the manager leaves at the end of the season. So the new manager will say he wants him to play.
“It could be Liverpool, but in that case you would be replacing Mohamed Salah.”
