News around Newcastle United’s January plans has taken an interesting turn following fresh revelations about Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo. Earlier in the week, reports surfaced claiming that Semenyo has a £65 million release clause in his contract, a detail that immediately sparked excitement among several Premier League clubs searching for attacking reinforcements.
The clause is only active for the first two weeks of the January window, giving potential buyers a small window to make their move while Bournemouth retain enough time to replace him. With 17 Premier League goal contributions already this season, Semenyo has naturally caught the eye of clubs who believe he is ready to take the next step in his career.
Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal have all been mentioned as possible contenders for his signature, and fans immediately began speculating whether Newcastle United would join the race, especially given their ambition to strengthen the squad after a turbulent start to the season.
However, it now appears that Newcastle are not expected to be involved in any pursuit for the in-form winger, despite early assumptions linking them to the deal.
David Ornstein, the respected reporter from The Athletic who broke the news about the release clause, quickly moved to clarify Newcastle’s stance. Speaking on his podcast, he explained that although Newcastle remain highly ambitious under their current ownership and under Eddie Howe, Semenyo is not a player they are targeting at this time.
Ornstein pointed out that Newcastle already strengthened their wide options with the signing of Anthony Elanga earlier in the season, which had been one of their main priorities.
With Elanga arriving on the right and Anthony Gordon continuing to impress on the left, Newcastle feel reasonably secure in those positions for now, making a major move for another winger unnecessary.
Financial constraints also play a major role in this. Newcastle have been operating close to their financial limits due to Premier League regulations, and some of their summer decisions were influenced by the need to stay within safe margins.
Ornstein highlighted the sales of Yankuba Minteh and Elliot Anderson, two promising young talents the club would have preferred to keep. The departure of Alexander Isak also played into balancing the books, although the club reinvested heavily in Nick Woltemade as part of the squad rebuild.
Because of these financial pressures, Ornstein believes Newcastle are unlikely to commit to a £65 million deal for Semenyo at this moment, regardless of his strong form.
This update shuts down growing speculation and may disappoint some supporters who hoped the club would add another explosive wide player in January.
But the club’s priority appears to be financial stability and targeted, sensible recruitment rather than chasing every high-profile opportunity. Newcastle still have ambitions to compete in Europe, win trophies and continue the steady progress made since Eddie Howe took charge, but they must do so within realistic limits.
While Newcastle appear to be out of the race, Arsenal may view the situation quite differently. Semenyo has previously spoken openly about being a fan of the Premier League leaders. Last year, he admitted he grew up supporting the Gunners and has always admired the club.
He called it an honour to play against a team he followed throughout his childhood and suggested that his long-term ambition is to play for a top club. His comments naturally give Arsenal an advantage, especially as they look to add more depth and firepower to their attack.
Semenyo made it clear that personal loyalties won’t affect his professionalism, but his admiration for Arsenal adds another layer to the story as the January window approaches.
If the Gunners decide to activate his release clause, they may find a player who is not only talented but also highly motivated to succeed in their colours.
For now, Newcastle United seem focused on stability rather than making big-money bids. And with no genuine interest from the club’s hierarchy, attention around Semenyo will turn elsewhere, leaving the winger’s future to be shaped by the clubs still ready to make their move.
