Andoni Iraola has confirmed that Antoine Semenyo will play for Bournemouth against Arsenal, despite reports linking the forward with a move to Manchester City.
Semenyo, 25, has been in impressive form this season, scoring nine goals and providing three assists in the Premier League. Bournemouth currently sit 15th in the table. The attacker has attracted interest from Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United and City, with reports on New Year's Day suggesting City had struck an agreement in principle.
A release clause in Semenyo's contract allows City to sign him for £65million in the first two weeks of January. The Ghana international appeared to wave goodbye to supporters after Tuesday's 2-2 draw with Chelsea, but no deal has been officially announced.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Iraola said: 'Yes, Antoine is going to play, yes.' He added that he expects Semenyo to be available for the club's next two home games and dismissed the idea that the Arsenal match would be a farewell.
'No, that's not the idea. When the market is open you never know what is going to happen because I cannot control these things,' Iraola said. He stressed that nothing has been signed: 'There is nothing signed, for sure. There are conversations.'
The Bournemouth boss praised Semenyo's professionalism, saying the player has been 'doing the right things both on and off the pitch' and has the team's best interests at heart.
