Clear favourite to sign Antoine Semenyo emerges as Premier League clubs pulls out of race for superstar

Antoine Semenyo is leaning towards joining Manchester City in January amid a plethora of Premier League interest, talkSPORT understands.

Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have also been linked with the Bournemouth star, who has a release clause between £60-65million.

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talkSPORT understands this release clause has to be triggered in the first ten days of the January transfer window, however.

Chelsea have also shown an interest in Semenyo, however, talkSPORT understands the Blues have pulled out of the running and opted not to pursue their interest further.

City have already held talks with Semenyo ahead of the January transfer window opening.

However, talkSPORT understands Liverpool are unlikely to make a January move for the 25-year-old.

It is also believed Arsenal would only be open to a move if they offload a winger next month, although the Gunners are expecting a quiet transfer window.

So it looks like a fight between the two Manchester clubs for the Bournemouth star, with Spurs currently outsiders in the race.

City have stolen a march on their top-flight rivals by opening talks with Semenyo two weeks before the winter window opens, and at this stage the player favours a move to the Etihad Stadium.

Manager Pep Guardiola is currently without wingers Jeremy Doku and Oscar Bobb due to injury, while Omar Marmoush is on Africa Cup of Nations duty with Egypt.

Semenyo will be available throughout the winter as Ghana failed to qualify for AFCON.

The 25-year-old is the joint-third-highest scorer in the Premier League this season with eight goals in 16 games.

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He signed a new five-year deal with Bournemouth earlier this year and is thought to be calm about his future despite non-stop speculation.

Semenyo returned to the scoresheet in the recent 4-4 draw with Manchester United after eight games without a goal in all competitions.

He followed that up with another against Burnley on Saturday.

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has been forced to bat away questions about Semenyo’s future throughout the season.

Speaking in November, the Cherries boss said: “Antoine is our player, he will continue being our player. In January, you can ask me about the market in January, but right now I’m not worried about the next markets.

“It’s something that especially you know that I hate to talk about in August, January, the moments when the market is open, but it is not one of those moments. It’s November.

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“I’m more worried about the situation of the players to play tomorrow, the short-term, the things that really matter and in January, we will talk about whatever happens, the players we need. But it is not something that I’m worried about today.”

talkSPORT verdict: Alex Crook (chief football correspondent)

I think the Semenyo situation is going to be a big talking point. Certainly for the first half of January.

We exclusively broke the news that he had a release clause in his contract that does indeed become active in the January transfer window.

There is a cut-off point, I think around about halfway through the month, by which clubs need to activate it.

We know that Liverpool are keen. There’s obviously a link there with Richard Hughes – the sporting director who signed Semenyo from Bristol City for Bournemouth in the first place.

Manchester United are certainly in the race as well – and Tottenham – although I’d make them outsiders at this moment in time.