Bournemouth have identified Leicester City's exciting winger Abdul Fatawu as a prime target to fill the imminent void left by Antoine Semenyo, who is on the brink of a big-money transfer to Manchester City.
Cherries Seek Direct Replacement for Semenyo
The south coast club are actively assessing candidates and view the Leicester City winger Abdul Fatawu as a fitting, like-for-like successor. Semenyo's departure appears certain, with Manchester City in prime position to sign him and Liverpool also monitoring the situation. The forward's complex release clause, valued at £60 million plus a further £5 million in add-ons, is set to expire around January 10, and formal offers are anticipated imminently.
Fatawu's Rising Stock at Leicester
Since his arrival from Sporting Lisbon, Abdul Fatawu has been a standout performer for Leicester City, providing energetic and thrilling displays during a challenging period for the club. His reputation has soared this season, particularly after scoring a spectacular individual goal from inside his own half against Ipswich Town earlier this month. In total, he has found the net four times this campaign, attracting attention from several Premier League sides with his consistent performances.
Competition and Valuation for the Winger
Bournemouth are not the first club to register interest in the talented wide man. Sunderland and Everton made enquiries last summer, while Crystal Palace were also keen before he joined Leicester. The Foxes, however, stood firm and are believed to have held out for a fee in excess of £30 million. While Bournemouth have also asked about other options, such as Nottingham Forest's James McAtee, they see Fatawu's profile as a more direct match for Semenyo. The Ghanaian is viewed as a pacy and skilful left-sided winger capable of both creating and scoring goals.
The Cherries' hierarchy are now set to deliberate on whether to formalise their interest with a bid in the coming days as they sift through their shortlist of potential targets. The potential departure of Semenyo and a move for Fatawu signifies a significant shift in Bournemouth's attacking options for the second half of the season.
