#antoine-semenyo

#antoine-semenyo

The Cherries have paid a reported fee of £24.7million to bring the winger to the Vitality Stadium from Vasco da Gama. Rayan, 19, sparkled last year with Vasco, scoring 20 goals in 57 games in all competitions, while he has also performed well for Brazil's youth teams. Bournemouth hope he can replace Semenyo, who joined Manchester City earlier this month for £64m.

Eddie Howe was not exactly overjoyed to learn that, instead of being cup-tied, Antoine Semenyo was free to play for Manchester City. Sure enough the Newcastle manager's worst fears were realised as Semenyo who had played in the competition this season for Bournemouth scored City's opener and had an another goal disallowed before Rayan Cherki's stoppage-time second left Pep Guardiola smiling broadly.

Semenyo has been heavily linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium for several weeks, with reports suggesting that Man City have already made significant progress, not only in negotiations with Bournemouth, but also in discussions with the player himself. Multiple outlets have claimed that Semenyo has informed Bournemouth of his desire to join City, driven primarily by the opportunity to work under Pep Guardiola, a manager renowned for improving attacking talent.

Andoni Iraola expects Bournemouth's Premier League fixture against Tottenham on Wednesday to be Antoine Semenyo's final game for the club. Semenyo reportedly has a £65m release clause in his current contract that can be activated by interested parties during the first two weeks of the January transfer window. Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool were also linked with a move for the in-form winger, but the Ghana international has reportedly chosen City as his next destination.

Arsenal have reached the turn in front and will now aim to move away from the chasing pack and secure their first Premier League title since 2003. The Gunners start the year with a four-point advantage at the top of the table but history is not on their side, having failed to land the crown the last five times they have started January at the summit.