AFC Bournemouth – Sport Witness http://sportwitness.co.uk Sun, 19 Nov 2023 12:06:55 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.1.15 Bournemouth prefer to lose player for free than sell in January – Club’s interest not changing stance http://sportwitness.co.uk/bournemouth-prefer-lose-player-free-sell-january-clubs-interest-not-changing-stance/ http://sportwitness.co.uk/bournemouth-prefer-lose-player-free-sell-january-clubs-interest-not-changing-stance/#respond Sat, 18 Nov 2023 14:16:12 +0000 http://sportwitness.co.uk/?p=448355 Bournemouth would prefer to lose defender Lloyd Kelly on a free transfer in the summer rather than sell him to AC Milan in the January transfer window. That’s according to Corriere dello Sport, who say the captain is ‘of great interest’ to the Italian side but a difficult deal for them to get done. The

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Bournemouth would prefer to lose defender Lloyd Kelly on a free transfer in the summer rather than sell him to AC Milan in the January transfer window.

That’s according to Corriere dello Sport, who say the captain is ‘of great interest’ to the Italian side but a difficult deal for them to get done.

The newspaper explains that Milan’s two main objectives for the winter transfer window are clear, both a defender and a forward will arrive to bolster their squad.

They are the two positions that both need strengthening and will receive greater attention from the management in the coming weeks.

A central defender is desperately needed as the squad has been left thin by injuries and ongoing fitness issues for Simon Kjaer.

Several potential options are being explored and Bournemouth’s Lloyd Kelly is one of those who is ‘of great interest’.

The problem is that Bournemouth aren’t particularly interested in a deal and don’t want to lose their captain in January. In fact, they would prefer to lose him on a free transfer next summer, when his contract expires than sell him for a fee in the winter window.

Why that is the case isn’t mentioned and seems a little strange from the Cherries on the face of it, but perhaps they value Kelly’s involvement in the squad higher than the likely reduced figure they’d get from Milan.

That could always change but for now it seems there’s no interest in selling Kelly, even if Milan do come calling for him.

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Andoni Iraola tells Spanish media about problems with Bournemouth defence – And what he’s doing about it http://sportwitness.co.uk/andoni-iraola-tells-spanish-media-problems-bournemouth-defence-hes/ http://sportwitness.co.uk/andoni-iraola-tells-spanish-media-problems-bournemouth-defence-hes/#respond Wed, 15 Nov 2023 14:16:53 +0000 http://sportwitness.co.uk/?p=447699 Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has insisted he won’t be changing his style or plans for the club, despite his side’s struggles defensively so far. The Spanish boss has been speaking to Marca about various topics, including his difficult start to life at Bournemouth so far. He arrived to replace Gary O’Neil in the summer, with

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Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has insisted he won’t be changing his style or plans for the club, despite his side’s struggles defensively so far.

The Spanish boss has been speaking to Marca about various topics, including his difficult start to life at Bournemouth so far.

He arrived to replace Gary O’Neil in the summer, with Bournemouth looking for him to repeat the job he had done at Rayo Vallecano, where he turned them into a competitive side in La Liga with an attractive brand of football.

The attacking intent has certainly been on show so far, with the Cherries not struggling in that area and indeed playing good football in general.

It has been the other end of the pitch which has proven to be their downfall, with 27 goals conceded so far only four short of Sheffield United, who have the worst record in the league with 31 conceded.

That’s left them 17th in the table and just three points outside the relegation zone, with two wins from 12 games so far.

The defensive issues are something that Iraola is more than aware of, and he’s detailed what he’s doing to help his team improve in that area.

“We knew it was going to be complicated,” he said.

“We had a starting schedule against rivals from above and then it also took us a bit for the team to take the ideas we bring. I hope the victories boost us.

“On an offensive level, we feel that we can do damage… but the other side is having a hard time. We continue to receive many goals, but we are not going to change our idea. Quite the opposite.

“The results have come to us by pressing higher, taking even more risks, sometimes even marking the man! We saw that we were staying in a no-man’s zone, and we suffered. We have reinforced the message.”

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Bournemouth ‘unlikely to invest’ in player in their current squad – 26-year-old old barely playing http://sportwitness.co.uk/bournemouth-unlikely-invest-player-current-squad-26-year-old-old-barely-playing/ http://sportwitness.co.uk/bournemouth-unlikely-invest-player-current-squad-26-year-old-old-barely-playing/#respond Wed, 15 Nov 2023 12:16:07 +0000 http://sportwitness.co.uk/?p=447621 When it was announced that Ionut Radu would be signing for AFC Bournemouth on loan, the player was delighted at the move. He had wanted to play in the Premier League for a while, and this was the chance for him to try and prove himself. The problem for the 26-year-old is that he has

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When it was announced that Ionut Radu would be signing for AFC Bournemouth on loan, the player was delighted at the move.

He had wanted to play in the Premier League for a while, and this was the chance for him to try and prove himself.

The problem for the 26-year-old is that he has barely played for Bournemouth so far, featuring just five times for the Cherries and hardly impressing, which is why Corriere dello Sport do not think the move will go beyond the current loan.

With 11 goals conceding in his appearances and just the one clean sheet, which came in a 2-0 win over Stoke City, there hasn’t been been enough to convince the Premier League side to put money on the table for him.

That’s why they write that Bournemouth are ‘unlikely to invest’ the €8m from his option to buy at the end of the season to keep him permanently.

Therefore, the belief at Inter is they will see him return once the campaign ends, needing to then deal with a potential transfer in the summer, since his contract in Italy ends in 2025, making next summer their last chance to fully capitalise on getting a decent fee.

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Liverpool ‘back in charge’ for signing – Reds offer was just initial attempt http://sportwitness.co.uk/liverpool-back-charge-signing-reds-not-put-off-clubs-decision-reject-offer/ http://sportwitness.co.uk/liverpool-back-charge-signing-reds-not-put-off-clubs-decision-reject-offer/#respond Mon, 06 Nov 2023 11:16:15 +0000 http://sportwitness.co.uk/?p=446092 AFC Bournemouth’s Lloyd Kelly continues to be a transfer target for Liverpool, according to a report. Since the start of last season, he has been used as a centre-back and also as a left-back. His form, versatility and contract situation [deal expires in 2024] has resulted in interest from a few Italian clubs. Tuttosport state

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AFC Bournemouth’s Lloyd Kelly continues to be a transfer target for Liverpool, according to a report.

Since the start of last season, he has been used as a centre-back and also as a left-back. His form, versatility and contract situation [deal expires in 2024] has resulted in interest from a few Italian clubs.

Tuttosport state Juventus are ready to challenge AC Milan to sign the Bournemouth player, who was wanted by Liverpool in the last window.

It’s claimed the Reds offered €20m for the defender but Bournemouth chairman Bill Foley rejected it, after consulting with director Simon Francis and new manager Andoni Iraola.

The Cherries’ decision to turn down the Merseyside club’s proposal hasn’t put them off. Tuttosport state the Reds are ‘now back in charge’ in the chase to sign the 25-year-old.

With the player’s deal expiring in 2024, Jürgen Klopp’s side and other interested clubs can take him on a free transfer next summer.

Juve sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli considers him to be an ideal candidate to bolster his side’s defence. The Old Lady are expected to face competition from Liverpool, Milan, Tottenham, Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund.

Kelly’s decision to appoint Ali Barat as his new agent a few weeks ago would suggest that his future could be away from Bournemouth.

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From Spain: Explanation and insistence why Bournemouth can’t give up on Iraola now http://sportwitness.co.uk/spain-explanation-insistence-bournemouth-cant-give-iraola-now/ http://sportwitness.co.uk/spain-explanation-insistence-bournemouth-cant-give-iraola-now/#respond Tue, 24 Oct 2023 12:16:02 +0000 http://sportwitness.co.uk/?p=444401 Bournemouth may want to stick with manager Andoni Iraola despite a ‘terrifying start’ to the season as he proved at former club Rayo Vallecano that he can turn things around. That’s according to El Correo, who cover the Spanish coach today and the growing pressure on him after a poor start to the season. Bournemouth

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Bournemouth may want to stick with manager Andoni Iraola despite a ‘terrifying start’ to the season as he proved at former club Rayo Vallecano that he can turn things around.

That’s according to El Correo, who cover the Spanish coach today and the growing pressure on him after a poor start to the season.

Bournemouth are currently 19th in the table after failing to win any of their first nine games of the season, losing six and drawing three to date.

They’re yet to show any serious signs of life under the Spanish coach, who arrived in the summer to replace Gary O’Neil and was supposed to bring an exiting brand of attacking football to push the Cherries up the table.

Instead, Iraola is yet to really get his style of football to work, and Bournemouth have looked like easy pickings for several teams, hence their position in the table.

The pressure is growing on Iraola as a result and El Correo admit that after the loss to Wolves at the weekend, he has ‘one foot in the abyss’.

This weekend’s clash with Burnley is likely to be his last chance to impress, although the newspaper does argue that Bournemouth’s board have shown incredible faith in their coach to date.

Their €127m spend in the summer and the fact they haven’t fired him yet demonstrates their faith and the suggestion is they should stick with that for now.

That’s because Iraola already showed at Rayo that his ‘ideas need time to settle’ and he was actually close to the sack at the Spanish club in his first season there before eventually turning things around and securing promotion before establishing them in La Liga.

Of course, doing so in the Premier League is a different matter entirely and the urgency is growing each week, with the clash against Burnley this weekend undoubtedly a ‘true final’.

On the other hand, Mundo Deportivo cover Iraola’s old club today and how they’ve moved on quickly under new manager Francisco Rodríguez.

They explain that Iraola’s departure ‘was a setback’ after three ‘unforgettable seasons’ – further proof Bournemouth should perhaps stick rather than twist – but Rodríguez has quickly helped them forget.

He’s currently led Rayo to 16 points in the first ten rounds of games, matching Iraola’s best tally after that many games from the 2021/22 season.

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“In the end you understand all sides” – Player talks about failed Bournemouth transfer http://sportwitness.co.uk/end-understand-sides-player-talks-failed-bournemouth-transfer/ http://sportwitness.co.uk/end-understand-sides-player-talks-failed-bournemouth-transfer/#respond Thu, 19 Oct 2023 09:16:12 +0000 http://sportwitness.co.uk/?p=443549 Back in the summer window, there were many reports from the Spanish media claiming AFC Bournemouth were interested in signing Alvaro Garcia from Rayo Vallecano. Since Andoni Iraola had worked with the winger at the La Liga side, it was said the manager would like to bring him to the Premier League. It turns out

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Back in the summer window, there were many reports from the Spanish media claiming AFC Bournemouth were interested in signing Alvaro Garcia from Rayo Vallecano.

Since Andoni Iraola had worked with the winger at the La Liga side, it was said the manager would like to bring him to the Premier League.

It turns out that Bournemouth’s interest in Garcia is now confirmed by the player himself, in an interview with Radio Marca.

The midfielder was asked whether the Cherries actually moved for his signing, and had no problems sharing some details of this attempt.

“Yeah… maybe [laughs]. I was talking to him a little bit. He was interested as well. At the club they asked for the clause. In the end you understand all sides. You understand the club because it’s their player and they have a clause to fulfil and also it’s nice that your manager is going to the Premier League and they want you,” Garcia told Marca.

The player also made some more comments on his great relationship with Iraola and the big impact the manager had on his career.

“The truth is that that year had a big impact on me. Especially the arrival of Andoni. Iraola changed my life at Rayo. The day of Girona I calmed down, I cried a lot after the game. In the interview I had recently, the pandemic also made me free myself and my mind. I forgot a bit about football and it helped me.”

With Garcia being so clear about Iraola’s interest in him, it’d probably be no surprise to see Bournemouth try for signing again in the upcoming windows.

The problem is that reports from Spain at the time said his release clause is €25m, and that sounds a lot for a 30-year-old who’s valued by Transfermarkt at €6m.

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“A delight” – Iraola brushes off Bournemouth pressure, insistence everything is fine behind the scenes http://sportwitness.co.uk/delight-iraola-brushes-off-bournemouth-pressure-insistence-everything-fine-behind-scenes/ http://sportwitness.co.uk/delight-iraola-brushes-off-bournemouth-pressure-insistence-everything-fine-behind-scenes/#respond Thu, 12 Oct 2023 10:58:32 +0000 http://sportwitness.co.uk/?p=442513 Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has insisted all is well for him behind the scenes, despite a poor start to the season for him and the Cherries. The Spanish coach has been speaking to La Media Inglesa regarding his time at the club so far after arriving in the summer as a replacement for Gary O’Neil.

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Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has insisted all is well for him behind the scenes, despite a poor start to the season for him and the Cherries.

The Spanish coach has been speaking to La Media Inglesa regarding his time at the club so far after arriving in the summer as a replacement for Gary O’Neil.

He moved to England after building an impressive reputation for himself in Spain, where his work with Rayo Vallecano had impressed many.

The hope was that he could introduce the attacking, exciting brand of football he had developed in Spain into Bournemouth and ensure this season was not another one spent battling relegation.

That’s yet to work out, though, with Bournemouth yet to win a game in the Premier League and their last game before the international break seeing them suffer a 3-0 defeat to fellow strugglers Everton.

Indeed, their only wins this season have come against Swansea and Stoke in the Carabao Cup, something which has naturally led to questions being asked and the pressure being raised on Iraola.

He’s not feeling it yet, though, insisting that behind the scenes all is well, particularly with the new Bournemouth owners.

“I can’t complain. Look, we have literally won two Carabao Cup games against Swansea and Stoke, and people are asking why we haven’t beaten anyone else,” he said.

“But if this doesn’t go well it won’t be because of the level of the club or because that hasn’t been done well. I will not have done it well. The players are the ones who have to make good decisions.

“I am delighted with the reception of the fans. I am convinced that they want us to do well. Up to now they’ve been super respectful of me and the team. Obviously, they want us to win and achieve our objectives.

“We are working well with Richard, the sports director, with whom I have the most contact on a day-to-day basis and Bill, who lives in the United States. It’s more sporadic contacts in that sense. Working here is a delight.”

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Agent admits Bournemouth man wants long England stay – Premier League is the dream http://sportwitness.co.uk/agent-admits-bournemouth-man-wants-long-england-stay-premier-league-dream/ http://sportwitness.co.uk/agent-admits-bournemouth-man-wants-long-england-stay-premier-league-dream/#respond Wed, 11 Oct 2023 15:41:40 +0000 http://sportwitness.co.uk/?p=442319 Ionut Radu would like to stay at Bournemouth beyond the end of his loan deal at the end of this season. That’s according to his agent, Crescenzo Cecere, who has insisted the goalkeeper is happy where he is and would be more than happy to extend his stay. Radu joined Bournemouth on loan from Inter

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Ionut Radu would like to stay at Bournemouth beyond the end of his loan deal at the end of this season.

That’s according to his agent, Crescenzo Cecere, who has insisted the goalkeeper is happy where he is and would be more than happy to extend his stay.

Radu joined Bournemouth on loan from Inter Milan at the end of July as part of their small rebuild following the arrival of Andoni Iraola as manager.

He’s yet to make an appearance in the Premier League this season, though, instead being used in the EFL Cup for the wins over Swansea City and Stoke City.

Despite only making those appearances in the cup, with Neto seemingly the preferred number one, there has been insistence Radu is happy with the situation and not regretting his move.

That was something his agent insisted in comments at the end of September, and he’s now reiterated it, insisting his client can even imagine an extended stay with the Cherries, or another club in England, should that be on offer in future.

“At the moment he is on loan with an option,” he said.

“The Premier League is a bit of a dream for all footballers who play in Europe and therefore also of Ionut.

“He is happy and content today, he is playing his championship. We hope that he can stay in England for a long time.”

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“They were quite clear” – Player on agents trying to force him to join Bournemouth, resulted in split http://sportwitness.co.uk/quite-clear-player-agents-trying-force-join-bournemouth-resulted-split/ http://sportwitness.co.uk/quite-clear-player-agents-trying-force-join-bournemouth-resulted-split/#respond Tue, 10 Oct 2023 09:16:31 +0000 http://sportwitness.co.uk/?p=441946 Hugo Larsson has revealed that he had to fight to turn down AFC Bournemouth earlier this year. The midfielder was a product of Malmö FF’s youth system and spent over a year with their senior team where he managed three goals and four assists from 61 games. His displays had caught the Cherries’ attention and

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Hugo Larsson has revealed that he had to fight to turn down AFC Bournemouth earlier this year.

The midfielder was a product of Malmö FF’s youth system and spent over a year with their senior team where he managed three goals and four assists from 61 games. His displays had caught the Cherries’ attention and they showed interest in signing him in January.

The 19-year-old has stated his former agent Magnus Agnar tried to force him to accept a move to Bournemouth, and Aftonbladet have relayed his quotes.

On Monday, Fotbollskanalen explained that the Swedish football association [SvFF] had suspended the representative for 18 months.

Aftonbladet state Larsson reported his former agent to the SVFF’s disciplinary committee for ‘several violations’, and when discussing this, he opened up on how Agnar was keen on taking him to the Premier League side.

“It’s no secret that I almost left Malmö for England in January. It wasn’t something I wanted while I felt that my agents pushed me very hard to accept it, and that was where it started and I felt that I didn’t want to work with them anymore,” he said.

“Then I was clear that I wanted to fix it in a nice way. It didn’t have to be as big as it was. It didn’t turn out that way and I had to resort to it together with my lawyers. It’s nice that it’s just solved.”

The Sweden international has explained that his former representatives had used different methods to put pressure on him to accept a move to Bournemouth.

“They were quite clear that they wanted me to go there. There were calls and text messages all the time, I guess that’s how the world works. But I was pretty clear from the start that I didn’t want to jump on it. That’s where we started to drift apart,” Larsson explained.

In the last window, Larsson joined Eintracht Frankfurt and Malmö reportedly received a club-record fee. He has managed a goal and an assist from nine games this season for the Bundesliga side.

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Club ready to offer Iraola fresh opportunity – Want him if Bournemouth decide to part ways http://sportwitness.co.uk/iraolas-bournemouth-exit-not-ruled-out-on-condition-club-keen-to-take-manager-talks-already-held/ http://sportwitness.co.uk/iraolas-bournemouth-exit-not-ruled-out-on-condition-club-keen-to-take-manager-talks-already-held/#respond Fri, 06 Oct 2023 09:16:14 +0000 http://sportwitness.co.uk/?p=441445 UD Almería have set their sights on AFC Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola, according to AS. The La Liga side are yet to register a league win this season and are currently bottom of the table after eight games. The poor run resulted in Vicente Moreno’s sacking and they are yet to appoint his successor. Claims elsewhere

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UD Almería have set their sights on AFC Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola, according to AS.

The La Liga side are yet to register a league win this season and are currently bottom of the table after eight games. The poor run resulted in Vicente Moreno’s sacking and they are yet to appoint his successor.

Claims elsewhere have stated Guadalajara manager Veljko Paunović is in contention for the vacant job at the Spanish club. AS have relayed this and then state the Bournemouth coach is also a target for them.

In the summer, the Cherries appointed the Spaniard after parting ways with Gary O’Neil, who helped them finish 15th in the table last season.

This season, the Premier League side are waiting for their first league win after seven games and are currently in the relegation zone with three points.

Bournemouth face Everton on Saturday and AS state Iraola’s dismissal is ‘not ruled out’ if his side were to suffer a defeat at Goodison Park. If the manager were to leave, Almería would try to bring him back to La Liga.

It’s said Iraola is the ‘most liked’ target for Almería and the two parties already held talks in the summer.

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