Man Utd Transfer Collapsed After Ruben Amorim Met Player for Dinner

Ruben Amorim reportedly met with one of the Premier League's top players to agree a transfer that eventually fell through.

Over the summer, one of the busiest and most exciting transfer windows in recent memory saw several of the biggest names in football move to join Premier League clubs.

Almost every single club in England's top-flight made statement signings across the three-month long summer window, with the likes of Alexander Isak, Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres all securing moves.

Despite finishing last season 15th on the Premier League table, United remained active in the market, signing Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, Diego Leon and Senne Lammens while overseeing the departure of several key players.

But it has now been revealed that United came agonisingly close to signing one of the standout players of the season so far, after Amorim met with the player and agreed personal terms.

Goalkeeper Senne Lammens was the last player to join Manchester United this summer. (Image: Manchester United/Manchester United via Getty Images)

In the opening match of the 2025/26 Premier League season, Bournemouth came within minutes of securing a point in a tough away game against reigning champions Liverpool thanks to a standout performance from Antoine Semenyo.

Since then, the Ghana international has been linked with several clubs, including United who are said to have come the closest after Semenyo met with Amorim to discuss a potential move.

According to a report from Duncan Castles, United had agreed personal terms with Semenyo after Amorim took him out for a meal to judge his character ahead of a potential move.

Speaking on an episode of The Transfers Podcast, the journalist revealed: "Both Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox had direct conversations with Bournemouth about signing the forward, who had scored 11 goals last season.

"During those conversations, United, I'm told, said they would pay no more than £55m for the player. They used the same strategy as with Cunha and Mbeumo in that they agreed personal terms with Semenyo before attempting to agree a fee with Bournemouth.

"They even had Amorim take him for a meal in London at the end of the season, so that Amorim could judge his character. Again, similar as to Cunha and Mbeumo."

Antoine Semenyo has impressed for Bournemouth in their opening Premier League fixtures. (Image: Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)

However, United were not the only club that were interested in signing the star forward, as Tottenham Hotspur also made enquiries about signing him this summer, something that Castles claims Bournemouth used to drive up their price.

The report claims that Semenyo would be earning 'less than 70 per cent' of what United are paying Cunha and Mbeumo, which is what ultimately allowed Bournemouth to convince the 25-year-old to sign a new contract until 2030.

But that doesn't mean that a future deal for Semenyo is off the table for United, as Bournemouth have reportedly told Semenyo that they would allow him to leave the club after at least one more season at the Vitality Stadium.