Liverpool and Man Utd on alert as Antoine Semenyo transfer clause emerges

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Premier League suitors including Manchester United and Liverpool have been put on alert over Antoine Semenyo. The Bournemouth star penned a new contract over the summer in a major coup for the Cherries - but it has now been claimed that said deal includes a release clause.

Semenyo, 25, scored a career-best 11 goals for Bournemouth last season as he stepped up following the sale of Dominic Solanke . He already has six strikes to his name this term, along with three assists, in just seven appearances. And those returns have already rekindled speculation over a future move, with a number of big clubs understood to be keen on the Ghana star.

In a boost for the likes of Liverpool and United, talkSPORT claim that Semenyo's new five-year deal includes a release clause. The exact terms of the clause - which means Semenyo would be available for a fixed price - have not been disclosed, but the club are believed to value their star forward at around £75million.

It's said that Bournemouth accepted agreeing to such a clause was their best chance of tying Semenyo to a longer-term deal after his performances last season.

Arsenal were also linked with the London-born star last season, but their summer business - adding Ebere Eze and Noni Madueke as well as starting striker Viktor Gyokeres - have seen those links die down. Liverpool and United also added attacking reinforcements but continue to be mentioned in connection with a summer swoop for Semenyo. Tottenham has also been mentioned as a potential destination. Semenyo's old team-mate Solanke is already at the North London club, as is his international colleague Mohammed Kudus.

Semenyo has been away with his country during the international break, starting World Cup qualifying wins away to Central African Republic and at home to Comoros. The victories saw Otto Addo's side clinch top spot in their group and book their place at next summer's tournament in North America.

It marks a remarkable turnaround after the Black Stars failed to qualify for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations. Semenyo featured in four of the six qualifying games as Ghana finished bottom of their group behind Angola, Sudan and Niger.

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“I’ve grown so much at the club, both on and off the pitch, and I’m really happy to have signed ahead of returning for pre-season.," Semenyo said when his new Bournemouth deal was announced in July. "From the fans to the staff and my teammates, I can’t speak highly enough of the people around the club. It’s a great place to be and I’m excited to get back to Bournemouth and continue the hard work with the new season just around the corner.”

He started the season like a train, scoring twice away at Liverpool on the opening weekend of the season as Bournemouth came back from 2-0 to 2-2 before suffering a late defeat. He also scored against Brighton and Leeds, before adding two goals and an assist in a comeback victory over Fulham just before the international break.

"Semenyo is in a very good spot, he is improving every season," Cherries boss Andoni Iraola told Match of the Day after that win. "I think he has confidence and we have to keep him there and encourage him to improve areas that he can improve. Now he is a player that is making the difference."

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