Man City backed to complete deal imminently amid Liverpool ‘smokescreen’
Man City are the clear front-runners to sign Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo in the next few days.
That is according to ex-Everton, Aston Villa, and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who would be stunned if Man City are beaten to the 25-year-old’s signature.
Man City are close to agreeing a deal with Bournemouth for Semenyo, with Pep Guardiola’s side prepared to meet the £65million release clause in his contract.
The Semenyo deal may cause an issue with Man City’s high wage bill, but they looked to have beaten competition from Premier League rivals for the winger.
Antoine Semenyo ‘going to go to Man City’
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – is confident Man City will complete the signing of Semenyo.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness thinks Semenyo will work well under Guardiola.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “I’ve been consistent on this. I think he’s the one that’s going to go to City. I know that his people met with City.
“Well, that doesn’t mean it’s all signed, and they may be trying to create some last-minute pressure on City. I think it’s pretty clear he’s going to be there.
“I’ll be put this way. I’ll be very, very surprised if he’s not a City player by the first, second of January. We know the deadline, I think, is the 10th of January for this release clause. City are prepared to meet the release clause, and I think Semenyo would be a very good move for him to be working under Pep.
“A lot of people have come out saying what a good guy this Semenyo is in terms of personality and his approach to the game. I hadn’t quite put that together, but it does seem a lot of people are saying this, so I think that will suit Pep very well.
“And I think the Liverpool thing’s a bit of a smokescreen, and I think I’ll be, as I say, I’ll be amazed if he goes to anywhere else than City.”
Man City star pursued by Borussia Dortmund
Oscar Bobb looks set to depart Man City in the January transfer window, with Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund leading the race for the 22-year-old.
Bobb has started just five Premier League games for Man City this season, and is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Man City fans want a buy-back clause to be inserted into Bobb’s next deal if he does depart, with many believing the Norwegian does have the talent to succeed in the Premier League.