Breakout Premier League star Antoine Semenyo is poised to join Manchester City in a blockbuster January transfer.
The in-form Bournemouth midfielder had become the league’s most in-demand player with Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United also in the race to sign the 25-year-old.
But leading football reporter Fabrizio Romano reported on Wednesday Semenyo had chosen City because of a desire to work under Pep Guardiola, with a transfer worth £65 million ($A130 million) now subject only to medical tests.
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The Ghana international has scored nine goals and assisted five more in his 19 appearances this season.
The player had a £65 million release clause in his Bournemouth contract and the club was ultimately resigned to losing a player who has become pivotal to their success.
There were hopes, however, they could keep Semenyo until the end of the season.
“I know there is lots of noise around him,” Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola said last month.
“(It is) not my concern, my concern is it doesn’t affect his performances. It is not doing, he is very committed to the team and I hope we can keep him here.
“(A) situation we cannot control, but Antoine right now is our player, going to continue playing for us.
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“If you ask me, I don’t want to lose him, definitely don’t. But every time the market opens, you never know what is going to happen.”
The arrival of Semenyo comes as a huge boost to second-placed City, who trail Arsenal by six points in the Premier League title race. He bolsters an already-potent attack featuring the likes of Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, Rayan Cherki and Jeremy Doku.
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