After losing Dominik Solanke to Tottenham during the summer transfer window, AFC Bournemouth will be sweating amidst the transfer interest of top clubs for right winger Antoine Semenyo. Gotten from Bristol City for about €10 million, the departure of Dominik Solanke has seen the 24-year-old blossom in his new role as Bournemouth’s most important attacking player with three goals and one assist in the Premier League this season.
A significant increment in his attacking stats this season highlights the added responsibility the young Ghanaian winger has taken up for Bournemouth.
Semenyo shines despite Bournemouth struggles
He ranks first in the Premier League this season for shots taken (37), with 4.76 shots taken per 90. He is also in the top eight attackers for most touches with 370. He’s also been a valuable player in possession this season, with a dribble success rate of 51.7% and 45 touches in the opposition box this season. These numbers might not be at an elite level, but with the quality and tactical setup of Bournemouth under Iraola, it’s arguable to predict that Semenyo can thrive with better players in a top-six team.
Semenyo doesn’t just thrive in the attacking part of the game but puts up impressive defensive work as demanded by Andoni Iraola, who sets his team to disrupt opposition buildup by pressing high aggressively. Semenyo’s energy and physicality have been a key part of Tottenham’s interest in the right winger, as Ange’s wingers are tasked with supporting the press by putting pressure on opposition centerbacks and fullbacks. Semenyo has won possession 11 times in the final third this season, 5 times short of the 16 he won throughout last season.
His defensive contributions can also be seen at the defensive part of the pitch, as he ranks joint top for most blocks (3) in the Premier League this season.
Tottenham could make a bold move?
Far from being the finished article and still much room for improvement, Semenyo looks likely to join his former teammate Solanke in London, as his quality highly suits Ange‘s demands for his wingers.
Tottenham’s defensive woes are not largely down to Spurs’ highline but a fragmented and uncoordinated press from the front, as opponents usually find it easy to play through Spurs disjointed press.
Semenyo offers more solidity out of possession for Spurs, having been well drilled by Iraola into being an intelligent pressing machine. Semenyo might need to work on his 1v1 quality as he often loses duels against elite fullbacks in the Premier League. With a transfer value of about €40 million, Spurs could be getting their hands on a rough diamond that could prove pivotal to the success of their squad building.
