Iraola says Semenyo could play last Bournemouth game, Kluivert set for knee surgery

Jan 6 : Bournemouth ‌winger Antoine Semenyo could be playing his final game for the south-coast club amid mounting transfer speculation, manager Andoni Iraola said on Tuesday, as he also confirmed another setback with forward Justin Kluivert set to undergo knee surgery.

Semenyo has a 65-million-pound ($87.70 million) release clause in his contract that can be triggered during the first two weeks of the January transfer window, according to British ‌media reports.

The 25-year-old Ghana international has been linked with a ‌move to second-placed Manchester City, who are seeking to close the gap in the Premier League title race with leaders Arsenal.

Semenyo has lit up the league this season, scoring nine goals - a tally bettered only by City's Erling Haaland (19) and Brentford's Igor Thiago (14).

"I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow or in the next two, three days, but ‍I asked before coming here just to be told, otherwise I will look foolish talking about Antoine and then (he leaves)," Iraola told reporters ahead of Wednesday's home game against 13th-placed Tottenham Hotspur.

"That's the situation right now. I think it could be his last game - that is ​my personal opinion. But there is ‌nothing agreed and nothing signed. It is my personal opinion as I understand the market and the noise."

Meanwhile, Dutch forward Kluivert was substituted in the ​74th minute of Bournemouth's 3-2 defeat by Arsenal on Saturday. Iraola said the 26-year-old will be ⁠sidelined for some time, though the ‌injury is not ligament-related.

"It's the knee capsule, the patella," Iraola explained.

"I'm not a doctor, ​I'm not the best one to explain it, but what I've been told is they will open it up, see what they can do, ‍and depending on the situation