Manchester City are poised to swoop in and steal Liverpool’s pursuit of Antoine Semenyo with a £65 million offer.

Manchester City are weighing up a major move to activate Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo’s £65m release clause — a twist that will seriously unsettle Liverpool’s transfer plans.

A report from The Times claims the Premier League champions are considering triggering the clause as soon as the January window opens. Semenyo, one of this season’s standout performers, has attracted strong interest from Europe’s elite, with Liverpool long thought to be in pole position.

But City’s sudden involvement threatens to derail that. Pep Guardiola’s side view the 25-year-old as an ideal addition to boost their title push and ease the attacking load on Erling Haaland. His versatility across the front line fits perfectly with City’s fluid system, and the existence of a release clause means Bournemouth would be powerless to stop the move.

Liverpool, meanwhile, have earmarked Semenyo as a leading target — helped by the strong connection with sporting director Richard Hughes, who originally signed him for Bournemouth. With Mohamed Salah set for AFCON duty, Semenyo was seen as both immediate cover and a long-term option.

However, should City decide to pay the £65m fee, the decision rests entirely with the player, turning January into a tense battle between two title rivals for one of the league’s most explosive attacking talents.