Manchester United are reportedly considering offering Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo his favorite number 24 shirt in a bid to lure him to Old Trafford in the January transfer window. The Red Devils are said to be keen to sign the Ghana international from the south coast club this winter, potentially giving them an advantage over other interested teams.
Semenyo, 25, has scored six goals and provided three assists in 11 Premier League games this season. As a result, there is a growing possibility that he will move to United midway through the season, and whether he is able to acquire his desired jersey number could have an impact on negotiations.
The number 24 jersey is currently worn by goalkeeper Andre Onana, who is on loan at Trabzonspor until the end of the season. However, United may not hesitate to sign Semenyo.
Tottenham, rivals for Semenyo’s signature, currently have Jed Spence wearing number 24 and may be unlikely to strip him of his number as their main player.
This small gesture could be key in pursuing one of the most in-demand players in the league right now. Onana’s future at United seemed uncertain after a series of mistakes damaged his standing, and the success of Senne Lamence made his position even more precarious.
His summer signing with Royal Antwerp has been a revelation in United colors so far. Onana, who joined former Ajax manager Erik ten Hag for a fee of £43.4m in 2023, is already looking unqualified.
There was speculation that Semenyo could be available in January after it was revealed he had a £65m release clause in his contract with Bournemouth. The winger signed a new contract on the south coast during the summer, but it is thought the Cherries only did so with the understanding that it included a release clause.
This suggests Semenyo, who has previously expressed a desire to move to Arsenal, would be open to a move if the right opportunity presented itself. And the £65 million figure represents a fairly realistic price for England’s top-flight spenders.
However, there may still be concerns about whether United can afford such an expense midway through the season. Ruben Amorim’s side have brought in Brian Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesco for a combined transfer fee of around £200m, but questions have been raised as to where Semenyo will fit in the XI without having one of these players on the bench.
However, Semenyo has shown versatility in virtually every attacking role, including the number 10 position.
One solution could be to take the slot away from Bruno Fernandes and relegate the Portuguese star to a deep midfield position.
