The $65m ‘hijack’: Man City vs. Liverpool for Antoine Semenyo - who is winning the transfer window?
After personal terms were reportedly settled for Semenyo, who has excelled at Bournemouth, Liverpool aims to activate his release clause before it potentially rises.
Both Manchester City and Liverpool are looking to have the services of the Bournemouth winger.
Last Updated: 04.10 PM, Dec 31, 2025
As the clocks strike midnight tonight and the world rings in 2026, the Premier League’s heavyweights aren't just celebrating a new year; they are launching into a transfer war. The headline act of the winter window has officially arrived: a high-stakes, £65 million "hijack" attempt as Liverpool looks to snatch Antoine Semenyo from under the nose of Manchester City.
The $88m (£65m) tug-of-war
For the past week, Antoine Semenyo’s move to the Etihad felt like a formality. Personal terms were reportedly agreed upon on Monday, and Pep Guardiola was said to have identified the Bournemouth winger as the final piece in his attacking puzzle. With nine goals and three assists in 17 games this season, the Ghanaian international has become one of the most feared attackers in the league.
However, sources on the south coast suggest that Liverpool’s Sporting Director, Richard Hughes, the man who originally brought Semenyo to Bournemouth, has made a dramatic late play. Liverpool is reportedly ready to trigger Semenyo’s £65 million release clause, which becomes active the moment the window opens on January 1.
The twist? Bournemouth is desperate to keep Semenyo for their high-stakes matches against Chelsea (Jan 3) and Arsenal (Jan 7). While City was reportedly willing to wait until mid-January to finalize the deal, Liverpool is rumored to be offering the full fee upfront to secure the player immediately, potentially stealing a march on their title rivals.
Key window dates: The countdown begins
The winter transfer window is a sprint, not a marathon. For clubs in the Premier League, the 2026 winter window follows a strict timeline:
Who else is on the radar?
While the Semenyo saga dominates the back pages, both City and Liverpool have other holes to plug if they want to sustain a title charge.
Manchester City’s Targets: With Kyle Walker’s influence waning, a specialist right-back is high on the agenda. Tino Livramento (Newcastle) remains a long-term target, though a mid-season move is difficult.
In midfield, City is keeping close tabs on Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace) and Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson as potential heirs to Rodri, whose fitness has been managed carefully after his ACL recovery.
Liverpool’s Targets: Beyond the Semenyo hijack, Arne Slot is prioritizing defensive depth. With Ibrahima Konaté’s contract talks cooling, the Reds are looking at Maxence Lacroix (Crystal Palace) and Murillo (Nottingham Forest).
There is also the "Mohamed Salah Headache" with his future always a topic of speculation. Liverpool is scouting Championship sensation Abdul Fatawu (Leicester City) as a cut-price alternative should the Semenyo deal fall through.
The verdict
The next 10 days will define the season. If Manchester City allows the Semenyo deal to drag past the January 10 clause deadline, they risk losing the Premier League's in-form winger to a Liverpool side that is increasingly ruthless under Richard Hughes.