Chelsea were held to a 0-0 draw at Bournemouth as a patchy attacking display and a first-half injury hindered their response after the Leeds defeat. Robert Sánchez produced the standout performance, his 8.5 rating reflecting a crucial save shortly before the break that kept Chelsea level.

The Blues showed some life after the interval, Alejandro Garnacho heading against the post and Cole Palmer testing Đorđe Petrović with shots that briefly threatened to change the game. Overall, though, Chelsea offered too little to deserve more than a point away from home.

Player ratings (out of 10)
GK: Robert Sánchez — 8.5
RB: Malo Gusto — 8.1
CB: Trevoh Chalobah — 7.5
CB: Wesley Fofana — 7.9
LB: Marc Cucurella — 7.2
DM: Reece James — 7.1
DM: Enzo Fernández — 7.0
RM: Pedro Neto — 7.1
AM: Cole Palmer — 7.6
LM: Alejandro Garnacho — 6.7
ST: Liam Delap — 5.7

Substitutes
Marc Guiu (31’ for Delap) — 6.6
João Pedro (58’ for Palmer) — 6.5
Estêvão (77’ for Garnacho) — 5.7
Subs not used: Filip Jörgensen (GK), Benoît Badiashile, Jorrel Hato, Josh Acheampong, Andrey Santos, Jamie Gittens.

Liam Delap left the field after 30 minutes with a shoulder injury sustained in a physical duel with Marcos Senesi, forcing an early change. Earlier, Bournemouth thought they had taken the lead inside four minutes when Antoine Semenyo celebrated, but a lengthy VAR check ruled Evanilson offside. Defensive nerves were visible in Chelsea’s opening phase and it took time for the team to settle.

In the second half Chelsea increased their urgency. Garnacho’s header hit the post and both Enzo Fernández and Cole Palmer drew saves from Đorđe Petrović, a former Blue. The match statistics underline the story: Bournemouth generated the better expected goals and more efforts on target, while Chelsea held more possession and a higher pass accuracy but produced too little in the final third.

Antoine Semenyo’s recent form and contract terms have pushed the Bournemouth winger firmly into the Premier League conversation. The 25-year-old scored six goals and supplied three assists in the first seven games of the campaign, and his new deal contains a release clause set at £65 million ($86.6 million). That combination has prompted renewed attention from several top clubs ahead of the January window.

Manchester City are reported to be the primary contenders to consider activating the clause as early as the winter window. Liverpool retain a structural advantage through sporting director Richard Hughes, who brought the winger to Bournemouth in 2023. Manchester United are understood to have cooled their pursuit as they prioritise other positions.

Semenyo is not a one-season wonder. He produced 11 goals and six assists last year, a return that underlines his capacity to cause problems for Premier League defenders when at his best. Still, potential suitors must weigh concerns about the subsequent drop in his level during part of this season, an issue that has affected other Bournemouth players as well.

Ghana manager Otto Addo has signalled that Semenyo is ready for a step up. “He has done very well at Bournemouth, but with all the respect for Bournemouth and what they’re doing, surely it is natural for him to take the next step,” Ghana boss Addo told The Athletic.

“Whether its in the winter or summer, it is a difference question but it won’t make a difference for [Ghana]. I’m looking forward to him showing more of what he can to the world.”

Clubs chasing an extra source of goals and assists will see Semenyo as an attractive option heading into January. The release clause places a clear price on the move, but form fluctuations make the decision makers cautious. For now, Manchester City look best placed to make a concrete offer, Liverpool benefit from existing relationships at Bournemouth, and Manchester United appear to have stepped back from active competition.

Manchester City have opened internal discussions about whether to trigger Antoine Semenyo’s release clause when the January transfer window opens.

The clause is believed to be set at £65 million and will become active from January 1. Club sources say City are “not yet fully committed” to moving, but some at the club believe bringing Semenyo in would “give them the edge” in the chase of league leaders Arsenal. The clause must be triggered by a certain, undisclosed, date in January so that Bournemouth have time to source a suitable replacement, which would require an early decision.

City remain in the middle of a rebuild after last season’s unexpected collapse that ended their run of four consecutive Premier League titles. That summer spending spree continued with another £181 million on six additions, but results have been mixed; City have lost four of 13 league fixtures so far this campaign. Erling Haaland has scored more than half (14) of City’s Premier League goals (27) to date, and Guardiola acknowledged the issue: “The big teams score with many, many players. If it’s just Erling that scores the goals we will struggle,” Guardiola admitted in the wake of the weekend’s 3–2 win over Leeds United.

Semenyo has six Premier League goals and three assists so far in 2025–26. No City player other than Haaland has that many goals at this stage, and only Hugo Ekitiké (6) can match him from Liverpool, while Manchester United and Tottenham’s respective top league scorers, Bryan Mbeumo and Richarlison, only have five each.

City are not the only side linked to Semenyo; Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have all been mentioned in recent weeks. The Liverpool angle is notable because Richard Hughes signed the Ghana international for Bournemouth in 2023, though Liverpool spent more than £400 million in the summer and may rule themselves out.

Bournemouth have made clear they will not block moves that represent a step up. “When a club like Real Madrid , Liverpool, PSG come in and they’re competing for Champions League positions, who are we to say, ‘No, you can‘t go, you can‘t fulfil your dream,’” Cherries general manager Tim Bezbatchenko said recently. Bournemouth paid Bristol City £10 million for Semenyo in January 2023, so a £65 million sale would represent roughly a £55 million profit in three years.