Chelsea tables late bid for exciting teenager Antoine Semenyo

A look at Bristol City starlet Antoine Semenyo who was the subject of a late Chelsea bid this January transfer window.

After joining Bristol City as a 17-year-old, Antoine Semenyo tore through the youth ranks to make his senior debut just a year later. He was loaned out to Newport County last summer and has certainly got the taste of regular football at Rodney Parade – featuring 31 times already, and notching six goals along the way.

Semenyo came to the attention of the mainstream earlier this month as giant killing Newport knocked Leicester City out of the FA Cup. The teenager gave Danny Simpson such a torrid time that Claude Puel was forced to pull the Premier League winner off after an hour.

The forward, who also features on the left-wing, is at his pulse-quickening best when running full tilt at defenders. His most obvious features are blistering pace and quicksilver footwork – which couple with positional astuteness and a cool head to make him such a hot prospect.

He is also physically impressive and can hold the ball up, as well as dominate aerially against bludgeoning lower league centre halves.

Apart from his well-rounded repertoire, Semenyo’s exponential rise from obscurity to a Manchester United and Chelsea target in just over a year makes him even more intriguing. He may still be a rough diamond, but seems to possesses enough natural ability to be honed into a shimmering jewel.

Will Chelsea sign him?

Chelsea reportedly launched a £1 million bid for the striker who would most likely join its Under 23s set up or be sent back out on loan. Bristol value the player at double that – but what’s another million to a Russian oligarch anyway?

As already stated, Manchester United are keen on the player and has been keeping tabs on the starlet since well before his heroics in front of the BBC cameras earlier this month. However, a good rapport with Antoine’s parent club gives Chelsea an advantage over its top four rivals for the signature.

Kasey Palmer and Jay Dasilva, a couple of Chelsea academy prospects, are currently on loan at Ashton Gate; while, Tammy Abraham also spent a year there in 2017.

This one may not have Chelsea fans rushing home to tune into Jim White on Thursday evening; but Semenyo certainly has the potential to get them off their seats in years to come.