Rio Ferdinand has called on Manchester United to sign Antoine Semenyo after the Bournemouth forward scored in a dramatic 4-4 draw at Old Trafford. The former Manchester United defender took to social media to express his desire for the club to keep the Ghana international, writing: "Don't let him leave after the game."
Semenyo opened the scoring for Bournemouth in the 40th minute, capitalising on a Luke Shaw error to slot home via the inside of the post. The goal levelled the match at 1-1 after United had dominated the early stages. The 24-year-old has now scored seven Premier League goals this season and is attracting interest from several top clubs.
Both Liverpool and Manchester City are understood to be aware that Semenyo has a £65 million release clause in his Bournemouth contract. Despite this, Ferdinand is keen for United to secure his signature rather than see him move to a rival. Ghana manager Otto Addo recently backed Semenyo to take the next step, telling The Athletic: "With all the respect for Bournemouth, it is natural for him to take the next step."
Ferdinand was otherwise impressed with United's first-half performance, which saw them lead 2-1 at the break through goals from Amad Diallo and Casemiro. He described it as the best 45 minutes under Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford, praising the tempo and passing through the lines. However, United had to settle for a point after a chaotic second half.
Manchester United spent over £200 million last summer on forwards Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, but Ferdinand's comments suggest he believes Semenyo would be a valuable addition to the squad.
