Sky Sports: Bournemouth have £34m bid rejected for Antoine Semenyo replacement

Bournemouth interest rebuffed as Stuttgart hold firm

AFC Bournemouth have seen an ambitious January move stall after VfB Stuttgart rejected a substantial approach for Jamie Leweling. According to Sky Sports information, Bournemouth identified the 24 year old as a potential successor should Antoine Semenyo complete a move to Manchester City.

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Funding plans and swift refusal

Bournemouth were prepared to table a so called “hammer offer” worth up to 40 million euros, using expected funds from the Semenyo deal to finance the move. The proposal was communicated verbally to Stuttgart sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth, but the response from Germany was immediate and emphatic.

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Stuttgart stance on squad strength

Stuttgart made clear they have no intention of selling Leweling during this transfer window. The winger, described internally as one of their strongest performers in recent weeks, has four goals and seven assists from 24 appearances this season. Alongside head coach Sebastian Hoeneß, Wohlgemuth is determined not to weaken a squad pushing ambitious objectives in the Bundesliga.

Growing profile across Europe

Leweling’s rise has not gone unnoticed. He has earned four senior caps under national coach Julian Nagelsmann, scoring once, and remains on course for World Cup contention. Previous interest from Nottingham Forest and Juventus was similarly knocked back. For now, Stuttgart’s veto stands, leaving Bournemouth to decide whether to return with an improved proposal.

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For concerned Bournemouth supporters, this report raises as many questions as it answers. On one hand, the ambition to identify a high calibre replacement before losing a key attacker is encouraging. Targeting a player valued at 40 million euros suggests Bournemouth are thinking proactively rather than reactively.

The worry lies in the execution. Stuttgart’s swift rejection highlights how difficult mid season recruitment at this level can be. If Semenyo departs and no equivalent arrives, supporters will fear a sudden drop in attacking threat, particularly with Bournemouth hovering near the lower reaches of the table.

There is also anxiety about timing. January windows punish indecision, and chasing unattainable targets can burn precious weeks. Fans will want reassurance that alternatives are lined up, not simply contingency plans dependent on one complex deal.

Ultimately, Bournemouth supporters crave balance. Selling well is only half the story, reinvesting decisively is the other. If the club cannot prise Leweling away, the concern is not missing out on one name, but whether the wider recruitment strategy is agile enough to protect Premier League status in the months ahead.