Blow for Man Utd as Ornstein reveals why they won’t sign ‘world-class’ star

David Ornstein issues an important update on the future of in-form Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo, who has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester United.Despite making three attacking acquisitions last summer in Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko, the Red Devils are still keen to bring in another forward.It should be noted that United parted ways with five attackers last summer (Rashford, Sancho, Garnacho, Antony and Hojlund), either on a permanent or temporary basis. Therefore, Ruben Amorim could do with one more option upfront.Man United trailing in the race for Antoine SemenyoIn recent weeks, Semenyo resurfaced as a serious transfer target for Man Utd, especially after enjoying a thrilling start to the season. The Ghanaian, who has been hailed as ‘world-class’ by his Bournemouth teammate Justin Kluivert, has already contributed with six goals and three assists in the Premier League this season.Moreover, it has recently been revealed that Semenyo’s contract with the Cherries includes a £65 million release clause valid for January, while the figure would decrease in the summer.(Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)But according to football journalist David Ornstein, Man Utd are trailing in the race for the 25-year-old. The reputable transfer expert revealed this during his appearance on the Athletic FC Podcast.As Ornstein puts it,  Man United had the opportunity to sign Semenyo last summer, but they instead opted to buy Mbeumo. At this point, the journalist isn’t aware of any activity on this front. 🚨🗣️ @David_Ornstein on Semenyo: “For the time being, from the many conversations that I’ve had, those three teams [Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham] seem to be the ones genuinely in the frame. […] Manchester United were there in the summer, but they went with the… pic.twitter.com/yBunWU8urT — UtdXclusive (@UtdXclusive) November 21, 2025The source also insists that if the winger is to leave Bournemouth in January, his destination would be either Manchester City, Liverpool or Tottenham.Why Man Utd are unlikely to land SemenyoAfter spending more than £200 million on revamping their attack, INEOS must struggle to fork out another large transfer fee in the middle of the campaign. Semenyo’s stats by club Appearances Goals Assists Bristol City 125 21 21 Bournemouth 101 28 13 Newport County 32 6 2 Sunderland 7 0 0 Although Man Utd supporters would love to bolster their ranks with another top-notch Premier League star, the reality is that the club must first secure a return to Europe (ideally the Champions League), guarantee themselves a financial boost before launching an onslaught for another costly attacking reinforcement.After all, it shouldn’t be forgotten that the club’s main priority for 2026 is to renovate the middle of the park.