Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has confirmed that winger Antoine Semenyo will feature in their upcoming Premier League fixtures, despite being linked with a blockbuster move to Manchester City.
The Ghana international has been at the centre of transfer speculation for weeks, with several top Premier League clubs reportedly interested. Manchester City appear to have won the race, with a £65 million deal reportedly set to take Semenyo to the North of England in the coming weeks.
Semenyo has been pivotal for the Cherries this season, contributing 11 goals and assists in 16 appearances, and Iraola is keen to retain him for as long as possible.
Speaking ahead of Bournemouth’s weekend clash with Arsenal, Iraola addressed the winger’s status:
"Yes, Antoine is going to play [against Arsenal]. No, this is not his final game. The idea is that he's available for these two games in a very short turnaround. I hope he can be here more time but I don't know what is going to happen."
"There is nothing signed. There are conversations and I understand a lot of the noise around but there is nothing signed. Antoine is our player and I hope—we want to keep him for a lot of time—but we want to keep him, yes."
With Semenyo set to depart in the near future, Bournemouth face the challenge of replacing one of their most influential players. When asked about the potential impact of losing the winger, Iraola remained pragmatic:
"Obviously, he is a massive player. Not only this season. But, everyone has to give their best. If we lose Antoine, that is going to be a massive hit but you have to move on. It is like this in football."
The manager praised Semenyo’s professionalism and commitment to the team:
"He is playing very well. He is doing the right things. He is a top professional, a top guy. He wants to help the team, he wants to help his teammates and I have no doubt about that. I have no doubt he will do his best."
Bournemouth will rely on Semenyo’s quality in the coming fixtures before his likely move to Manchester City, while planning for life without their star winger in the near future.
