Venkatesham’s negotiating skills will be sorely tested as Spurs identify No#1 January target

Club Context:

Under manager Thomas Frank, Spurs are rebuilding their front line following injuries (e.g., James Maddison is out long-term) and recent Europa League success, which has qualified them for Champions League football. Semenyo has previously expressed excitement about playing in Europe, giving Tottenham an edge over rivals like Manchester United.

Bournemouth, fresh off a new five-year contract for Semenyo (signed July 2024, running to 2029), are demanding £70-80m.

This is steeper than their £55m+ sale of Matheus Cunha earlier, and Tottenham may need to exceed £65m to even start talks.

Number one target for January

Reports from October 4-5 indicate Spurs have now made Semenyo their “number one target,” with confidence building for a winter push. This follows Bournemouth’s ninth-place finish last season and Semenyo’s breakout form.

Semenyo has been Bournemouth’s talisman, contributing to 10 of their last 18 goals since April 2025. He’s the second-highest scorer in the league (behind Erling Haaland) over that span.

Current form indicators:

9 goal involvements in 7 games (1.29 per 90 minutes), averaging 2.5 key passes per game, and winning 60% of duels. He’s scored braces in three matches, including a standout performance vs Fulham.

A marquee signing in the making:

Antoine Semenyo joined Bournemouth from Bristol City for £10m in January 2023; 22 goals in 89 appearances overall. Teammates call him a player with “all the ability in the world.”

If Tottenham act decisively in January, this could be a marquee signing to boost their title challenge. Bournemouth won’t sell cheaply, but Semenyo’s form (and desire for trophies) might force their hand.

For now, it’s speculation, but Semenyo’s trajectory screams “big move incoming.” Would he thrive at Spurs? Under Thomas Frank, it looks and feels plausible.