There is a dire need to add some depth and dynamism in the front line at Hotspur Way given how the North Londoners have found it difficult to find solutions in stale game states along the ongoing 2024/25 campaign, and the Lilywhites have been linked with a move to bring Bournemouth wide forward Antoine Semenyo to N17 in the summer transfer window.
There is already an established line of transfer from the Cherries to Spurs with Dominic Solanke joining Tottenham Hotspur in the previous summer window, but can Semenyo follow suit?
Putting it into perspective, a move for Antoine Semenyo away from Bournemouth is widely anticipated, but if he were to move to Hotspur Way, it would be the start of a debate about whether the North Londoners are the right fit for the 25-year-old.
Ghanaian legend calls Tottenham a “demotion” for Semenyo – Is he right?
The opinions have already started coming in on the back of the rumours, with former Ghana international Matthew Amoah insisting a move to N17 would end up being a “demotion,” so we will take a look at why Tottenham could (or could not) be the right step for Semenyo.
Speaking to Africa Foot, Amoah said:
“With all due respect to Tottenham, if this is the only offer that comes to Semenyo this summer, then he should stay at Bournemouth.”
“Bournemouth are currently a better team on the pitch than Tottenham and seem more stable with a very good coach in Andoni Iraola. So, joining a club that is far behind would be a demotion that makes no footballing sense.
“He’s doing his job very well at a club that also appreciates his work and efforts, with fans singing his name day in and day out. Unless a much bigger club comes along, he should stay at Vitality.”
“Also, the €40m that is being talked about is below his value in the current market, given his contract, age and ability.”
Let’s dig deep…
If we take his words a bit seriously and start with comparing the Ghanaian at Bournemouth and his probables at Tottenham. At the moment, Andoni Iraola’s side is sitting comfortably in ninth position while playing some progressive and attractive football. But Tottenham, while they did show flashes of promise under Ange Postecoglou, remain inconsistent and below the Cherries at thirteenth (13th) in the English top tier ladder with consistent defensive fatalities.
But then to put it into perspective, Bournemouth doesn’t have the financial pull of Spurs, and while they can attract players with some slick football under Iraola, it would be difficult to keep them given how we saw them selling Solanke.
The Cherries are aiming to break into the top ten, while Tottenham, on the other hand, want to push for titles even if the current realities vis-à-vis the PL table don’t show that. Moreover, the duo of Daniel Levy and Ange Postecoglou are rebuilding a core with young and dynamic players like Archie Grey, Lucas Bergvall, Micky van de Ven, Destiny Udogie, and Semenyo, who could grow alongside this core.
Then if you look at the system that the Australian head coach has deployed at Tottenham, he demands high-energy forwards who press relentlessly and interchange positions (all of which is in line with the traits that Semenyo has given his ability to play across the front three). And he could well end up fitting in seamlessly at N17. The 25-year-old has shown how he can regularly trouble the defenders with his dribbling and that blistering pace when he gets the ball sticking to his feet, and that has churned into nine goals and five assists in all competitions this season.
It’s his pace, flair, and goal-scoring ability that we’ve not seen regularly at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this season, and it will add dynamism and unpredictability to the current attacking setup that has struggled to break down defences this season.
There are many other clubs interested in signing Semenyo, but calling a move from Bournemouth to Tottenham a demotion wouldn’t be ideal. While Amoah has expressed concerns, a move to Spurs is a risk (for sure), but with possibilities of higher rewards. And let’s accept the fact that Semenyo has outgrown Bournemouth’s project, and at 25, he is ready to be at a place that matches his ambition, and this is where Tottenham offers tactical fit, European football, and the chance to become a household name.
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But again, that being said, he is attracting interest from the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool, and a possible move to either club makes more sense at the moment.
