Manchester United plotting £40 million January move for “magnificent” Bournemouth star, and it isn’t Antoine Semenyo…

AFC Bournemouth's Tyler Adams celebrates scoring their second goal with Antoine Semenyo. (REUTERS/Scott Heppell)

Manchester United and Bournemouth played out one of the most chaotic games of the season on Monday night, sharing an extraordinary 4–4 draw at Old Trafford.

The match swung wildly from end to end, with United twice taking the lead through Amad Diallo and Casemiro, only to be reeled back in by Antoine Semenyo and Evanilson.

Marcus Tavernier then put the visitors in front before Bruno Fernandes and Mateus Cunha looked to have completed a dramatic turnaround for Ruben Amorim’s side.

But there was still time for one final twist, as Eli Junior Kroupi struck late to silence the home crowd and cap a breathless contest at the Theatre of Dreams.

In the aftermath of that thriller, attention has quickly turned to the transfer market — and despite long-standing links to Semenyo, United’s focus has reportedly shifted to another Bournemouth standout.

Manchester United are said to be closely monitoring Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams as they plan a January move to address lingering issues in the centre of the pitch.

After heavy spending in the summer on Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Šeško, United were left short of options in midfield — a problem the club is keen to solve when the window reopens.

While names like Carlos Baleba and Adam Wharton remain high on the club’s shortlist, Fabrizio Romano reports that Adams has emerged as a more attainable alternative.

The United States international is viewed as a realistic and comparatively affordable option, with a fee in the region of £40 million believed to be enough to spark discussions. Adams is seen internally as a potential long-term replacement for Casemiro, offering energy, intensity and tactical discipline.

Bournemouth, however, are reluctant to entertain offers. The Cherries reportedly consider Adams a cornerstone of Andoni Iraola’s side, with the manager having described the midfielder as “magnificent”. With Semenyo also attracting serious interest, Bournemouth are wary of weakening their squad further mid-season.

From United’s perspective, the timing could make sense. Kobbie Mainoo is expected to leave Old Trafford in January, and reinforcements in midfield are becoming a priority if Amorim is to stabilise his side in the second half of the campaign.

Whether Bournemouth can be persuaded remains to be seen, but United’s interest in Adams underlines their determination to strengthen — even if it means targeting one of the Premier League’s most important midfielders.

Barnaby Lane is a highly experienced sports writer who has written for The Times, FourFourTwo Magazine, Sports Illustrated, TalkSPORT, and Business Insider.

Over the years, he's had the pleasure of interviewing some of the biggest names in world sport, including Usain Bolt, Rafael Nadal, Christian Pulisic, and more.