The ears Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham may have pricked up after it reportedly emerged that Antoine Semenyo could be available on a cut price deal in just weeks time.
Semenyo, 25, has had a breakout season at Bournemouth, scoring six goals in 12 matches so far this season and picking up a further three assists.
According to The Athletic, the forward could be available for as low as £65million in January, with Bournemouth of the view that they may be powerless in terms of trying to keep their star man.
Their plan, though, is to keep him until the summer, with the Ghana international having signed a new contract in the summer, running until 2030.
It is said that a release clause was included in the new deal, which is reportedly set at £65million. Any club can pay it, but it must be activated by a certain date which will give Bournemouth enough time to find a replacement.
The Cherries will do their best to fight off an suitors, but there may be offers that they are unable to refuse. And, should the saga run until the summer, the release clause will be even lower.
In the summer, Bournemouth were hopeful of receiving a fee in the region of £70million for Semenyo.
Man United were among the suitors, but did not sanction a move at that price, given they failed to qualify for the Champions League.
Instead, they signed the likes of Matheus Cunha for £62.5million from Wolves and Bryan Mbeumo for £71million from Brentford.
Tottenham, meanwhile, reportedly spoke to Semenyo in the summer, but also weren't wiling to pay the fee that was being asked for.
Manager Thomas Frank also spoke on the player last season before his Brentford side took on Bournemouth, saying: 'Semenyo can play wherever he wants to play. He's a fantastic player.
'I think he's been the best individual player for Bournemouth this season. He is definitely a player we need to look out for and do our best to close down.'
Spurs signed Mohamed Kudus in the summer, who plays on the right and cost £55m. Semenyo, though, is comfortable on either flank or through the middle.
Bournemouth endured a summer of change and raked in around £200m in player sales, with most of their defence leaving and tasking the side with replacing a lot of their team.
Ilya Zabarnyi joined Paris Saint-Germain for £60m, while Milos Kerkez, who has endured a mixed time of things this year, made the move to Liverpool for £40m.
Dean Huijsen also joined Real Madrid for a £50m fee, and Dango Ouattara left for around £42.5m for Brentford. Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, who was on loan from Chelsea, also opted to join Arsenal this year.
Still, the Cherries have had a good year so far, sitting ninth in the Premier League standings. They have, though, suffered back-to-back defeats in their last two games, going down against Manchester City and Aston Villa.
resabekpst
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Personally i wouldn’t purchase Africa players as you lose them every Dec/Jan, for up to 6 weeks for the AFCON. It’s time they changed it to the summer. But they won’t make the same money, so it’ll never change, ridiculous situation, for clubs and players.