Semenyo a January target for Manchester United as well as Liverpool and City

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Manchester United are vying with Liverpool and Manchester City to sign Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth in early January, with Ruben Amorim having first expressed an interest in the 25-year-old last summer. The forward is thought to favour joining Liverpool, with City his second choice, so United’s head coach faces a fight to convince him.Semenyo, who scored in Monday’s 4-4 draw at Old Trafford, has a release clause understood to be slightly less than £65m, with the sum including loyalty money and agent payments.

The City manager may consider departing this summer but this should not affect any decision Semenyo makes.Amorim wants Semenyo to strengthen his options at wingback and forward. Before United’s draw with Bournemouth Amorim described the Ghana international as a “special” footballer.

At left-wingback, Patrick Dorgu, Amorim’s first signing last January, has failed to impress and his other option, Diogo Dalot, is primarily a right-back.Amorim has lost the forwards Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo to, respectively, Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon, who are at the Africa Cup of Nations. Ghana have not qualified so Semenyo is free to move next month.United, who travel to Aston Villa on Sunday, are enjoying the best run of form of Amorim’s 13-month tenure, losing only once in 10 games, and are sixth, a place above Liverpool.