Manchester United are reportedly gearing up for a major January 2026 transfer swoop, with Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo emerging as one of the club’s top targets.
The Red Devils are believed to be preparing a serious push to bring the Ghanaian attacker to Old Trafford, and early reports suggest the club is willing to go the extra mile to secure his signature — including offering him the shirt number he cherishes most.
According to sources familiar with the situation, United are ready to hand Semenyo the No. 24 jersey, a shirt number he has grown attached to throughout his career. At present, the number technically belongs to goalkeeper Andre Onana.
However, since Onana is currently out on loan at Trabzonspor and not expected to return before the end of the season, Manchester United would be free to reassign the number immediately if Semenyo arrives in January.
This small but meaningful gesture is seen as part of the club’s strategy to persuade the 25-year-old attacker to choose Old Trafford over his other suitors.
And there are plenty of suitors. Semenyo has become one of the Premier League’s most closely watched wide forwards, drawing serious interest from a host of European clubs thanks to his explosive pace, direct playing style, and constant goal threat.
So far this season, he has delivered 6 goals and 3 assists in the Premier League, numbers that have only intensified speculation about a mid-season transfer away from Bournemouth.
When Semenyo signed a contract extension earlier this summer — a deal that keeps him tied to Bournemouth until 2030 — he reportedly inserted a £65 million release clause into the agreement.
This clause means that any club willing to pay the set fee can open direct negotiations with the player.
For financially strong clubs, the valuation is considered realistic, especially given Semenyo’s consistently rising trajectory. But the bigger question is whether Manchester United will actually spend that amount in January.
United have already splashed out close to £200 million earlier in the summer window on new signings, including Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, and Benjamin Sesko.
Internally, there are debates about whether another major attacking purchase is the right move financially — but Semenyo’s flexibility may make him too valuable to ignore.
The Bournemouth star is able to operate across all attacking positions, from the wings to the No. 10 role, making him an ideal fit for a squad still searching for consistency and creativity in the final third.
One additional factor working in United’s favour is international availability. Ghana did not qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, meaning Semenyo would remain fully available throughout the winter — a major advantage for any club signing him during the January window.
With United aiming to strengthen their attacking depth without losing key personnel to tournament absences, Semenyo’s situation makes him an even more appealing target.
As the January window approaches, all eyes are now on Bournemouth, Manchester United, and ultimately Semenyo himself.
Whether United activate the £65 million release clause remains to be seen, but their willingness to offer the player both a central role and his preferred kit number suggests that the pursuit is very real and very serious.
