Third Premier League giant join Man Utd and Man City in race to sign Antoine Semenyo

Semenyo's fate might be the biggest story of the January transfer window

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As reported by David Ornstein of The Athletic, one of the best renowned journalists working in the Premier League, it is Enzo Maresca's Chelsea who have made first approach for the Ghanian.

The player has a £65 million release clause in his contract that can be triggered from the start of next month.

Despite their genuine interest, the Blues will face stiff competition for Semenyo, who is top of the list for almost every big Premier League club this season.

Who else is in the race?

The Ghana star is expected to be of major transfer interest following his impressive form throughout the season so far, scoring eight goals and assisting three times for Andoni Iraola's high-flying Cherries' side.

While Man City and Man United had been viewed as the favourites to sign Semenyo — with further fuel added to rumours by Ruben Amorim's description of the 25-year-old as a "special player" last week — there have been some suggestions that Liverpool too may be keen to make a move for the attacker.

The Reds look set to be without record signing Alexander Isak for the foreseeable future, after the Swede sustained a fracture to his ankle on Saturday.

In light of the setback, The Telegraph reported on Monday that Arne Slot's side will consider a move for Semenyo in January.

All three of the Premier League superclubs will be on red alert this morning, following the emergence of a surprising new detail within the player's release clause.

While it has been widely reported that Semenyo has a £60 million release clause, the journalist Alex Crook has revealed that the clause must be triggered within the first ten days of the window.

So if any of the interested clubs want to sign Semenyo for a cut-price of £60 million, they will have to do so by the 10th of January.

Only time will tell which of the three are first to make an official move for the player.