AFC Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola has underlined his hope of keeping star winger Antoine Semenyo amid speculation linking the Ghana international with a January move.
Reports suggest Manchester City are eyeing Semenyo, who has a release clause of £65 million.
Speaking ahead of Bournemouth’s trip to Brentford on 27 December, Iraola admitted the uncertainty surrounding transfer windows but stressed the player’s value to the team.
“You never know what is going to happen,” Iraola said.
“In the summer there were a lot of movements. I don’t know what’s going to happen in the winter movements.
“At the end, you sign a contract and understand that both parties are happy when you sign it. But me as a coach, I can only tell you I hope we don’t lose him, because he is very important for us.
“I don’t know what is going to happen. I can’t control what’s going to happen.”
The Bournemouth boss praised Semenyo’s consistency and overall contribution beyond goals.
“Antoine, for me, has been performing very well. Not just the last two games where he has scored. He has consistently been very good since the beginning. Even when not scoring, he is still valuable for us. At the end, we don’t just demand numbers. It is no secret he is a massive player for us,” he added.Â
The 25-year-old is expected to feature when Bournemouth visit the Gtech Stadium. Since joining the Cherries in 2023, Semenyo has recorded 28 goals and 10 assists in 97 Premier League appearances.
