Manchester United are preparing an early push to sign Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo when the January transfer window opens. Central to United’s strategy is a release clause in Semenyo’s contract that would make the Ghana international available for £65 million ($87 million). Reports indicate that this clause is only active for the first two weeks of January, creating a narrow window for any suitor.

United’s plan, according to The Telegraph, is to move quickly once the market reopens. Competition is intense: Manchester City, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are all understood to be in the mix for the 25-year-old.

Part of Manchester United’s reasoning is the perceived uncertainty around Manchester City’s ability to offer Semenyo a clear long-term project. Pep Guardiola is described as a huge fan of Semenyo but has been tipped to step down at the end of the season. Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, previously an assistant to Guardiola at City, has been touted as a replacement.

That managerial uncertainty could weaken City’s hand. Without confirmation of a settled long-term vision for the player, City’s potential offer may lack the assurances Semenyo and his camp seek. United and other suitors are looking to exploit that hesitancy by trying to strike a deal in the coming weeks.

United have targeted Semenyo before. They submitted a summer bid of £50 million that was rejected by the Cherries, and they were unwilling to meet Bournemouth’s £80 million asking price at that time. With Bournemouth reportedly agreeing to a lower exit price for the first half of the January window, United believe this is an opportunity to revisit the move and finally secure a long-time target.

The situation presents a clear deadline for interested clubs: act early in January or risk losing the chance to trigger the clause and compete for Semenyo’s signature.

Reports that Bruno Fernandes’ Manchester United contract contains an overseas-only release clause have intensified debate over the midfielder’s future at Old Trafford. The Daily Mail says the clause is set at £56.6 million ($75.7 million) and would apply only to clubs outside the Premier League.

The story followed a high-profile interview in which Fernandes said, “United did, in fact, want to sell him to Al Hilal but lacked the guts to tell him to his face.” That remark, alongside his admitted interest in playing in La Liga and Serie A, has prompted fresh speculation about potential moves abroad.

Despite Fernandes’s comments, public messaging from the club has been firm. According to Fabrizio Romano, those in charge at United are adamant Fernandes still has a place at Old Trafford, and the club made it clear they have no plans to sell the 31-year-old.

Transfer timing is a key factor. Sources in the report suggest any exit this January is unlikely, while a move in the summer remains possible. The player is expected to consider his future around the World Cup and could draw renewed interest from Saudi suitors. His openness about Spain and Italy could also encourage offers from clubs in those leagues, while a desire to return to Lisbon and Sporting before retirement has also been mentioned in coverage.

Ultimately, the decision appears to rest with Manchester United. The club are reportedly planning an expensive midfield overhaul and retain control over any sale. For now, Fernandes has repeatedly stressed his wish to stay so long as he is wanted, while also signalling he would accept a departure if the club decided to sell.

In a second excerpt from the same interview released by Canal 11 (via Maisfutebol), Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes set out a clear list of potential destinations while reflecting on his relationship with the club. Fernandes said he had been affected by recent events at Old Trafford, telling reporters he felt “hurt” and “sad” by the club’s actions.

On his future he was candid. “I want to stay at Man Utd as long as I feel wanted,” he said. He added that playing in Spain would appeal and that Italy remains on his list of possibilities: “I would like to experience the Spanish league and fight for major titles in Italy. I have many connections with Italy, my daughter was born there.”

Fernandes traced those Italian ties back to his teenage years. At 17 he moved to Novara after being passed over by the youth systems of Portugal’s biggest clubs. He admitted he was so homesick he nearly returned home until his then-girlfriend Ana, now his wife, persuaded him to stay and commit to his career.

After one season at Novara he moved on to Udinese. Across spells with Udinese and Sampdoria, Fernandes made 119 Serie A appearances but never finished higher than 10th in the table.

The interview also revisited previously stated openness to alternative moves. “If one day I have to play in Saudi Arabia, I’ll play in Saudi Arabia,” he said. At the same time Fernandes did not close the door on a return to his native country: “I’ve already thought about returning to Portugal,” he revealed.

On the subject of Sporting, the club where he began his senior career, Fernandes was measured: “Out of affection and respect, my first choice would be Sporting. If I were to be happy, it would be with Sporting. But I don’t want to spoil the image I have. Even for family reasons, I’d like to return to Portugal. But I don’t want to drag things out, I want to add something.”

The interview will likely intensify speculation about his next steps, with Spain, Italy and a return to Portugal all explicitly on the table.