Sports
David Ornstein explains Man Utd stance on Antoine Semenyo transfer
Manchester United’s inconsistency reared its ugly head again on Monday as they were beaten 1-0 by Everton despite having a man advantage for much of the game.
Ruben Amorim’s side were defeated by David Moyes‘ Everton on yet another return to Old Trafford for the former Red Devils boss and failed to take advantage of dropped points by Tottenham, Sunderland, and Bournemouth around them in the Premier League table over the weekend.
Whereas United could have gone up to fifth, level on points with Aston Villa and just one behind Manchester City, they were undone by a determined defensive effort by the Toffees.
The game saw Amorim stick with his usual 3-4-3 system even when chasing things late on as he was left with four defenders on the pitch including Diogo Dalot at left wing-back and two natural centre-backs.
United had 25 shots to Everton’s three and attempted 38 crosses (three of them being connected with) yet only 16 of their 684 passes ended up inside the penalty area.
It points towards a side lacking in the forward areas, and reports suggest that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos are continuing to look at potential reinforcements.
United interest in Antoine Semenyo
The Everton performance comes just over one month before the January transfer window, when many will expect the club to continue a rebuild under Amorim.
Although the attack was revamped in the summer with Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko, United have only scored 16 non-penalty goals from 12 matches this season and they have now been linked with Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo.
He has a £65million release clause which becomes active on January 1 but The Athletic’s David Ornstein is unaware of United pressing ahead to beat their rivals to the Ghanaian man.
The transfer expert told NBC Sports prior to the Everton match: “Interested clubs are said to contain the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur.
“Spurs were keen on him last summer, as were Manchester United. They were told around £70million at the time and didn’t go for it.
“I think United’s interest is ongoing but I don’t know of them activating anything at this time. We’re not sure about the player’s preference right now.
“I’m sure he will assess the options and see what comes in, if anything materialises into a transfer.”
Amorim’s style doesn’t suit Semenyo
The question for United with yet another big-money signing is where to fit them all in. Bruno Fernandes is already playing deeper to accomodate Mbeumo, Cunha and Sesko, although it was Joshua Zirkzee trying without much success to be the striker on Monday.
Semenyo has thrived off either flank for Andoni Iraola but it isn’t clear where he would play for United. The 25-year-old can play both sides and up front as one of the most two-footed players around, but it would disrupt the United front three who are still trying to gel as it stands anyway.
Like Amad Diallo, he could be moved into an attacking wing-back role, but there is probably only room for one of those with balance needed on the opposite side. United just do not appear to suit Semenyo’s needs the most, especially not compared with Liverpool and Tottenham.
With Mohamed Salah struggling and Tottenham struggling with injuries, both sides look more akin to being destinations for Semenyo.
Semenyo shows up United options
Only two players have managed more than Semenyo’s five open-play goals in the league this seaosn with Mbeumo also on the same number.
Erling Haaland and Danny Welbeck have 14 and seven respectively but neither have assisted a goal. Semenyo has laid on three times for teammates, the joint-second most in the division.
Behind Haaland, he has a serious claim to be the player of the season so far and that comes off the back of scoring 11 and assisting five last term.
He looks set to improve on that, but where will he spend the second half of the season?
