Signing someone to ease the burden on Erling Haaland could be on the agenda for Manchester City
So far this season Erling Haaland has been the most reliable attacking threat for Manchester City. Haaland has scored 19 goals in all competitions so far this season. Phil Foden is City’s next top scorer with four goals in all competitions. Manchester City’s reliance on Haaland is clear to see. Now a new report indicates that Pep Guardiola is a big fan of Bournemouth’s versatile attacking powerhouse Antoine Semenyo. It has been reported that City could move for Semenyo in January to help ease the goalscoring burden on their star striker.
Alex Crook has reported for TalkSport that Manchester City are set to rival Liverpool to sign Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth. Furthermore, Crook reports that the release clause in Semenyo’s contract is valid for the first half of the January transfer window. Crook further reports that Pep Guardiola is a known admirer of Antoine Semenyo as a player. Lastly, Crook adds that Pep Guardiola is concerned about the lack of goals from City players outside of Erling Haaland which may force City’s hands in the January transfer window.
Manchester City do need players to step up and ease the goalscoring burden on Erling Haaland. That isn’t in question. Omar Marmoush is one player who can fulfil that task but unfortunately his season to date has been blighted by injury. Marmoush is now fit but he has predominantly been a late substitute in City’s matches. Whether or not Marmoush can get more minutes remains to be seen. But if City were to sign Antoine Semenyo he’d surely take minutes off the Egyptian international. My question is: Is Antoine Semenyo a better player than Omar Marmoush? He’s a different type of player with his pace, power, directness and versatility to play in a variety of roles but I’m not prepared to say he is more reliable goalscoring option than Marmoush despite what the statistics say for this season.
In terms of Antoine Semenyo being a more consistent and valid goal threat than Oscar Bobb or Savinho for example that answer is obvious. The Ghanaian international is without a doubt. Semenyo has proven that across the past two seasons. Savinho and Oscar Bobb need to add goals to their game. They are yet to do that on a consistent basis. Semenyo is a regular goalscorer for Bournemouth. But to fit Semenyo in would City have to sacrifice one of Bobb and Savinho? To cater for Semenyo’s arrival, Pep Guardiola would have to sacrifice minutes for either player. Especially considering that it is highly unlikely that City would sell either of Bobb or Savinho at this stage. But circumstances could change in that regard, especially if Manchester City move for Bournemouth’s goalscoring winger.
Summary.
Manchester City continue to be linked with a move for Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo. It would be a costly move and perhaps it is one that City will make to add a consistent goalscoring threat to their squad to ease the burden on Erling Haaland. There is a case fot City to make that move but whether or not they do remains to be seen.
