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Speculation surrounding the future of Antoine Semenyo is intensifying ahead of the January transfer window after it emerged that there is a buyout clause in his Bournemouth contract, which could see him make a midseason move to a new club.
Semenyo only signed a new contract in July, but in order to convince the player to do that, Bournemouth agreed to include a release clause in the deal. Bournemouth hopes to keep hold of Semenyo until the end of the campaign, but the Cherries may be powerless to do so if a top club comes in and triggers his £65 million ($86 million) release clause.
Semenyo has only boosted his reputation since signing that new deal, having registered six goals and three assists in the league since the start of the season.
The release clause in Semenyo's contract must be triggered by a specific date in January, in order to give Bournemouth adequate time to source a replacement for the 25-year-old before the window closes.
The Athletic reports that the release clause will also apply during next summer's transfer window, but at that point, the figure will be reduced to a smaller amount.
Pep Guardiola gave his view on Semenyo earlier this month ahead of a game between Manchester City and Bournemouth.
"He is an extraordinary player," Guardiola said. "It is not just this season. The way Bournemouth play suits him perfectly."
The summer departure of Luis Diaz from Liverpool, coupled with a disappointing start to the season from Cody Gakpo, has seen the emergence of links between Semenyo and the Reds.
Sky Sports reported on Monday that Liverpool, Manchester City, and Tottenham are all monitoring Semenyo ahead of a possible January swoop for the Ghana international.
Tottenham was also interested in Semenyo in the summer, as was Manchester United, but both clubs ended up signing different attacking players.
Speaking earlier this month, Semenyo said that he was happy to have taken the decision to extend his contract with Bournemouth after being asked about speculation surrounding his future.
"I don't think about it too much," Semenyo said of transfer links. "I try to stay present as much as I can. You see the news all the time, I see it as well, I'm not oblivious, but I try to keep focused.
"I'm enjoying my football here. If I'm not scoring goals, all of that goes away. I try to stay present, do the best I can for the team, score goals and whatever happens in the future happens."
Bournemouth sold a host of first-team players in the summer, as Milos Kerkez, Dean Huijsen, Ilya Zabarnyi, and Dango Outtara all moved on, but Semenyo chose to stay.
"When they [his former teammates] all left [in the summer], there was a lot of interest and back and forth with the club," Semenyo recalled.
"But I knew in my head that the manager's got something up his sleeve this year. How we finished off the season last year was so good and we could continue, especially with the players we've bought in as well.
"I wasn't too sure at the start, but we've kicked on like a house on fire. I'm glad I committed to staying here because I'm enjoying every moment."
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