Crystal Palace take closer look at in-demand Bristol City star as transfer stance revealed

Antoine Semenyo’s transfer saga at Bristol City doesn’t look to be over despite the window slamming shut for all English clubs until January.

Semenyo was subject to much speculation about a possible departure this summer but ended up staying at Ashton Gate, where he hopes to be part of a side that can achieve something special in the Championship this season.

A host of Premier League clubs were rumoured to be interested in him and there had been reports of a deadline day bid from Bournemouth, but that was revealed to just be an enquiry from the Cherries.

Semenyo’s contract was due to expire in the summer of 2023, but an interview from Steve Lansdown said that the Ghana international had ‘two years left’ on his deal which would hint at the club activating the extra year in his contract.

An article posted on The Sun by Football League journalist Alan Nixon has revealed that Palace’s interest is real after their transfer chief Dougie Freedman reportedly was in attendance at Ewood Park for Saturday’s match.

The Eagles are willing to play the long game by waiting for Semenyo to get ‘fully fit’ before making an offer for him. Palace had not made a bid having refused not to until he had been watched by a staff member in person.

For most of the summer, the City academy graduate had been recovering from a shin injury sustained on international duty for Ghana back in June.

As to what Freedman saw from his scouting trip to Lancashire, Semenyo came on in the 62nd minute on Saturday but was limited to 11 touches and was only able to take one shot after entering the pitch and played five passes. In previous games, he had come off the bench against Wycombe, Blackpool and Huddersfield Town to score.

The day instead belonged to City’s new attacking trio of Tommy Conway, Nahki Wells and Andi Weimann. Weimann assisted both Conway and Wells for a goal whilst the latter scored a brace to secure the victory for the Robins, where he has now already beaten his goals tally for the whole of the 2021/22 season.