Even at their lowest ebb last season, Manchester United’s traction was enough to lure both Brian Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha to Old Trafford, and the proven Premier League pair have since become two of Ruben Amorim’s bright lights so far in the 2025/26 season.
As the January transfer window approaches, there are hopes of a similar development for Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, with INEOS having made a call ahead of a potential move for the £65m player.
However, unlike Mbeumo and Cunha before him, the Ghanaian appears to have his mind set on another destination if he predictably moves from the Vitality Stadium, with title challengers Manchester City thought to be his preferred pick.
City’s squad, which already boasts the likes of Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki, could well add more attacking weapons to their arsenal, and United will need to look for suitable replacements to strengthen their thin options at the top end of the pitch.
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Although there has been some improvement this season, United’s lack of real depth and quality in attack has been felt keenly of late, having scored just 44 goals last time out in the league.
In fact, Mbeumo has scored a top-flight six goals since joining from Brentford, while Cunha and Mason Mount have only scored three goals each, with Benjamin Sesco and Joshua Zirkzee each scoring a further two and one respectively.
Even Amad, who is currently on AFCON duty, really needs reinforcements in the side, having scored just two goals in the league this season, which is why there has been long-standing interest in Semenyo.
Another option, Paris Saint-Germain sensation Bradley Barcola, could be floated, according to reports in Spain, with United thought to be one of three teams vying for the Frenchman.
According to reports, Bayern Munich and Liverpool are both on the list, but the Red Devils have not ruled out making a permanent move for the 22-year-old if the opportunity arises.
The article adds that while INEOS wants to put the club at the front of the queue now, a deal is likely to be completed in the summer.
Comparison of Barcola and Semenyo
Amorim has shifted to a more traditional 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 in recent games, increasing the need for more serious options on the flanks, particularly on the left.
Barcola, described by analyst and Como scout Ben Mattinson as “one of the best left wingers in Europe”, would have been more worthy of selection than Semenho, who has scored nine league goals this season, but Barcola may have more talent.
The former Lyon star has only scored five goals in Ligue 1 in 2025/26, but was a key figure in PSG’s rise both domestically and in Europe last season, scoring 21 goals and providing a further 21 assists in all competitions.
For comparison, Semenyo had just 13 goals and seven assists last season, highlighting the potential class difference between these two exciting wide men.
What also sets Barcola apart from his Bournemouth counterpart is the quality he has proven at Champions League level, scoring seven goals and assisting in 17 appearances as the Parisian side cruised to victory under manager Luis Enrique.
Overall last year, Barcola performed well compared to his peers in Europe’s top five leagues, specifically ranking in the top 4% for assists and top 7% for completed passes.
His average per 90 across a range of metrics has also outpaced Semenho over the past 12 months, with the PSG speedster leading the way in progressive carries, progressive passes received and touches in the attacking penalty area, among other key points of comparison.
Barcola vs Semenyo – Last 365 days | ||
|---|---|---|
State (per 90) | Stagger | Semenyo |
non-penalty goal | 0.37 | 0.37 |
assist | 0.43 | 0.20 |
The action that creates the shot | 4.60 | 3.61 |
Pass completed | 83.7% | 73.0% |
progressive path | 4.02 | 3.41 |
progressive carry | 4.96 | 3.58 |
successful take-up | 1.55 | 1.56 |
Touch the offensive box | 8.37 | 4.78 |
Progressive rock. pass received | 14.80 | 6.74 |
Statistics by FBref | ||
Essentially, as Mattinson hinted, he is one of the best players on the continent in his field, but perhaps only overshadowed by the exploits of Kviča Kvaratschelia, who is ahead of Enrique on the left.
If the Champions League winner needs a fresh start to properly realize his potential, Old Trafford could be the ideal destination.
Of course, Semenyo has a proven track record in English football, but Barcola’s highlights on the European stage make him an even more exciting addition.
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