Details of Manchester United's £65 million Semaño signing plan revealed! Only 20 days to act, personal terms already discussed

The move for Bournemouth winger Antoine Semaño is expected to be the standout transfer in the upcoming January window. United, City, Liverpool, and Spurs have all engaged with him, and with his £65 million release clause activating at the start of January, any interested club must move quickly.

This week, both Manchester United and Manchester City have contacted Semaño’s agent, while Liverpool has not made recent approaches but had discussions back in November about the specific terms related to his transfer. Tottenham are also interested, though their recent contacts have not progressed.

During this summer’s window, both Manchester United and Tottenham offered £50 million for Semaño but were rejected by Bournemouth, who valued him at £70 million. United then opted to sign Mbemou for a similar fee. Now, the existence of the release clause slightly reduces Semaño’s price, but only by £5 million.

Moreover, Semaño’s winter release clause is time-limited and expires after January 10. This leaves Premier League giants with little time to act; if it lapses, Bournemouth may refuse to sell. Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano explained: “Ultimately, it is Semaño’s decision what he wants to do. Negotiations with these clubs are crucial in clarifying his future direction. The release clause expires on January 10, so a decisive moment regarding Semaño’s future is approaching quickly.”

Transfer expert Ben Jacobs from "GIVEMESPORT" revealed that currently Manchester United and Manchester City are the most proactive, while Liverpool and Tottenham are less active, though the situation could change at any time within the next 20 days. Despite various reports in the Premier League, some calling Manchester United the “front-runners,” Semaño has not clearly expressed his preference.

Bournemouth prefers that Semaño stays until the end of this season, even if by then the release clause drops to £50 million. However, whenever the clause is triggered, the "Cherries" have no say and must respect the player’s choice. Therefore, British media generally believe that Semaño’s winter transfer is highly likely.

Additionally, the £65 million release fee is non-negotiable, but clubs interested in buying Semaño can still negotiate payment terms with the "Cherries," such as offering extra interest in exchange for installment payments, since by regulation, release clauses usually require a lump-sum payment.

Manchester United wants Semaño to play as a left wing-back, while Manchester City plans to use him as a winger competing with players like Doku and Savinho. Semaño personally prefers a forward role, and rumors suggest Ruben Amorim might adjust tactics to attract the 24-year-old Ghanaian international to United. City has better chances of winning titles and playing in the Champions League; however, at Old Trafford, Semaño is more likely to become a starter and earn a higher salary, which are two major advantages for United.

After positive negotiations, Manchester United has outlined their plans to Semaño’s agent and are strongly persuading him. Despite his impressive goal and assist record over the past two seasons—7 goals and 3 assists in 15 games this season—his athletic ability is fully capable of adapting to Amorim’s 3-4-3 wing-back system.

Manchester United has also discussed personal terms with Semaño. He is an outstanding player, and if the club manages to sign him, regardless of the position he plays, Amorim’s team will see a significant boost in strength.