Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has delivered a firm public rebuttal to mounting speculation that star forward Antoine Semenyo could depart the club when the transfer window reopens.
Iraola Addresses the "Noise" Surrounding His Star Player
The Cherries' boss confirmed that Semenyo has a £65 million release clause in his contract that becomes active on 1 January 2025. This hefty clause has reportedly put elite clubs, including Manchester United, Liverpool, and Tottenham Hotspur, on high alert.
However, speaking ahead of his side's Premier League clash with Brentford this Saturday, Iraola was unequivocal about his desire to retain the Ghanaian international's services. "Antoine Semenyo right now is with us," stated the Spanish coach. "He has trained today with us, very well. I understand that there is a lot of noise around Antoine. But my concern is that it doesn't affect him, his performances and we are seeing that it is not affecting his performances."
Semenyo's Priceless Contribution to Bournemouth
Iraola's determination to keep hold of the 24-year-old is firmly rooted in his outstanding form this campaign. Semenyo has been a pivotal figure for the south coast club, scoring eight goals in 16 league appearances and finding the net in each of Bournemouth's last two matches.
"Antoine, for me, has been performing very well. Not just the last two games because he has scored," Iraola elaborated. "The level of consistency has been very good since the beginning of the season. He has had moments where he hasn't scored and has still been very valuable for us. At the end, we demand not only the numbers, but he gives us a lot of things. It's no secret he is a massive player for us."
The Uncontrollable Nature of the January Transfer Window
Despite his clear wishes, the pragmatic manager acknowledged the unpredictable reality of the upcoming January transfer window. He admitted that while the player is currently fully committed, certain situations remain beyond the club's direct control.
"He is very committed to the team and I hope we can keep him there," Iraola said. "There are situations that we cannot control, but right now, Antoine is our player and he's going to continue playing for us. If you ask me, I don't want to lose him, definitely don't want to lose him. But like we always say, every time the market opens, you never know what's going to happen."
The coming weeks will determine whether Bournemouth can resist the inevitable interest and substantial financial temptation that Semenyo's contractual clause will generate from rival Premier League sides.
