Manchester United push for Antoine Semenyo as Amorim’s ideal wide weapon

Manchester United are advancing plans to sign Antoine Semenyo, with confidence inside the club that Ruben Amorim views the Bournemouth attacker as a perfect fit. The key question raised by a leading broadcaster today was where Amorim would deploy him - wide forward or an adventurous left wing back in a 3-4-3. Internal chatter points to a flexible role that maximizes his ball carrying, pressing and direct power. Parallel noise around Joshua Zirkzee and a potential Serie A exit has only sharpened United’s focus on Semenyo as a guaranteed profile for Amorim’s blueprint. Momentum is building and talks are active.

Broadcast journalist Dharmesh Sheth publicly questioned Semenyo’s prospective role under Ruben Amorim, reflecting a wider industry discussion about United’s tactical direction. Conversations with club-adjacent figures indicate United admire Semenyo’s pressing intensity and hybrid wide-forward skill set. Separate speculation around a Zirkzee move to Italy has amplified the need for another dynamic attacker. Fan discussion also referenced potential setups featuring Sesko, Mbeumo and Cunha, underscoring how Semenyo’s versatility could unlock multiple shapes.

🚨🗣️ @skysports_sheth: "The interesting thing with Semenyo is if United were to sign him, where Ruben Amorim would want to play him.   Is he going to take over from either of Cunha or Mbeumo? It's very unlikely. Is it the left-wing back position that Amorim has cited Semenyo?

@UtdXclusive

Impact Analysis

If Manchester United complete this move, Amorim gains a plug-and-play outlet who fits the two most important lanes of his model: wide forward aggression and wing back verticality. Semenyo thrives in transitions, presses with purpose and carries the ball through contact. In a 3-4-2-1 he can operate as the right or left inside forward, stretching the last line and creating footraces that tilt the pitch. In game states where United need full control, he can start deeper on the flank, then explode into space when the press is triggered.

His Bournemouth education matters. Andoni Iraola’s team ask their wide players to defend forward, spring traps and attack the half spaces. That schooling mirrors Amorim’s non-negotiables: intensity without the ball, immediate counter-pressure, and fast vertical attacks. United have lacked a consistent carrier who can turn a 50-50 into a 70-30 in their favor on the break. Semenyo’s stride, upper-body strength and improving final pass answer that deficit.

Commercially, an attainable Premier League-proven profile reduces adaptation risk versus a continental import. Tactically, he raises the floor of United’s out-of-possession work while adding ceiling in broken field. The ripple effect is significant: inside forwards get cleaner looks, full backs are less exposed in transition, and Amorim can flip from 3-4-3 to 4-3-3 mid-match without losing width or ball-carrying thrust.

Reaction

Supporter talk today moved fast and loud. One line of thinking backed Semenyo as a fluid 9 alongside a marquee striker like Sesko, with some predicting Zirkzee would be moved on to Serie A if the dominoes fall. Others argued the purest fit is left wing back when Amorim wants a more aggressive flank - the kind of role that turns defense into instant breakaway. A bolder camp mapped out a 4-3-3 post-Bruno era, slotting Semenyo at LW with a central focal point and Mbeumo on the opposite side, Cunha floating as a roaming 10.

There’s also pragmatism. Fans know Bournemouth will demand a premium for a player who delivers effort plus end product. Still, the mood is broadly positive: lots of yes please replies, a sense that this is the right profile at the right time. A few skeptics questioned whether sacrificing a more traditional wing back dilutes control, but most countered that Amorim’s rotations and rest defence should protect the structure. The consensus landing spot: a deal that feels both exciting and coherent.

Social reactions

Bruno Fernandes most likely won't be at the club next season, so you're probably looking at a 4-3-3 formation with either Amorim or a new manager If Semenyo signs then it's him at LW, Sesko ST, Mbeumo RW with Cunha behind as the CAM

Matthew Wyn Morris 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 (@mwmorris1997)

Would be used as a fluid 9 alternating with Sesko I guess , and zirkzee would be shipped to Serie A . He’d fit nicely in the lwb position but I don’t imagine him choosing to play there when he could play in his preffered position elsewhere

H 🇾🇪 (@h_mufc99)

Yes please 🔥♥️✍️

Brahim Iarkani (@b_iarkani)

Prediction

Short term, expect United to formalize their intent with a structured proposal that includes achievable add-ons tied to appearances and team performance. Bournemouth will push for a valuation that reflects Premier League scarcity and the player’s upward curve. The middle ground is a package balanced between fixed fee and performance triggers, with protection for both sides.

On the pitch, Amorim likely trials Semenyo in two lanes during pre-season: left inside forward in a 3-4-2-1 and high-aggression left wing back when United chase the game. In controlled matches, he operates higher, combining with a central striker and an inverted right-sided forward. In volatile away fixtures, he starts deeper to weaponize transitions. Training focus will center on timing of presses, blind-side runs beyond the last defender and cut-back patterns from the half space.

Should parallel striker movements materialize in Italy, the squad build tilts even further toward mobile attackers who press first and finish second. Net result by the end of the window: United add a Premier League-ready runner who widens the tactical menu and raises competition for starting spots.

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Conclusion

This is the kind of move that marries idea and execution. Semenyo fits Amorim’s football - aggressive, vertical, relentless - and he comes without the adaptation gamble that has tripped United before. The skepticism about exact positioning is healthy, but it’s also the point: his flexibility lets United change shape without changing personnel. In a league defined by intensity and moments in transition, that has real value.

I’ve seen this profile elevate teams quickly: a wide runner who can press, carry, and finish turns tight matches. If the numbers line up, United get an immediate contributor who can grow into a centerpiece. Bournemouth will not undersell, nor should they, but there is genuine confidence that a solution exists. Tick the boxes, move decisively, and let Amorim layer in the details. This one makes football sense - and football sense usually gets done.