Manchester United Consider Transfer Plan of a Bygone Era to Land Antoine Semenyo: Why He’d Fit

Antoine Semenyo has become one of the Premier League’s most highly coveted forwards in recent seasons.

The Bournemouth star, 25, is the Cherries’ most valuable asset and has developed into their most potent attacking threat, too.

Semenyo has bagged 28 goals in just over 100 appearances for the club but his stats do not tell the full story.

His assist numbers sit at 13 in the same number of matches but his overall game has been impressive under Andoni Iraola with the manager using him as a versatile attacker.

Semenyo has turned out in various positions on the pitch including through the middle and on both sides of a three pronged frontline.

To many clubs that represents a valuable star but with five years left on his current contract at the Vitality Stadium, any outfit looking to take him away from the club will have to stump up.

Liverpool have been named as potential suitors for the Ghana international while Newcastle United, FootballBlog revealed earlier in the summer transfer window, are also keen admirers.

Antoine Semenyo to Manchester United could suit both parties

It is Manchester United, though, who are believed to have the most concrete interest in the player ahead of the January window while they could also look to wait until next summer depending on Ruben Amorim’s success rate this term.

Semenyo would cost a flat fee of around £65million to land in the winter but United seem unwilling to spend big on the player unless absolutely necessary.

According to reports in the Express, the Red Devils are instead considering a move from a bygone era in football which would be a potential swap deal to get their man.

The likes of Mason Mount, Joshua Zirkzee and wantaway United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo have been named as possible makeweights alongside some sort of fee for Semenyo.

All three players have had different levels of playing time this season.

Mount has managed just nine appearances in all competitions amounting to shy of 380 total minutes. With that has come one goal against Sunderland and an assist in the Carabao Cup vs Grimsby Town.

For striker Zirkzee it has been significantly less than that with just 90 total minutes in all competitions from five outings. He is yet to find the back of the net this season with big money man Benjamin Sesko ahead of him in the pecking order as well as Bryan Mbuemo and Matheus Cunha.

Mainoo in the engine room has featured eight times following a summer demand from manager Amorim with 228 minutes on the pitch from eight total fixtures so far.

All three would be realistic exits to accommodate Semenyo, but what would the latter offer in return?

As mentioned, Semenyo’s goal stats are half decent for a player who has been expected to turn out in multiple positions.

In Premier League matches alone, the Cherry has played 92 times and his numbers do not lie.

Across those 92 in the top flight only – not including cup matches – Semenyo has 26 goals and 10 assists but he creates chances for his teammates too and brings others into the game.

His expected goals (xG) is also significant.

Across the full number of matches, Semenyo’s xG sits at 26.66 combined. Just this season his metric has jumped to 5.32 from just 11 outings where he has actually found the net six times.

Over the piece he averages just over three shots per game and 0.36 goals per game.

Semenyo Bournemouth stats vs Sesko at United

Compared to £74m Sesko, the Bournemouth man has a much better average in all metrics.

Sesko has an xG total at United of 3.78 from 11 games while his average shots per game sits at 2.83.

He has two Premier League goals from 11 and that takes his goals per game percentage to 0.55.

Semenyo may not always be suited to being the lone gunman up top but he has the ability.

And with Cunha on one side and Mbuemo on the other, the attacker could go from strength to strength at the Theatre of Dreams should the club sanction an effort to land him.