Cherries need players in difficult transfer window, says Mark McAdam

With the deadline of the January transfer window fast approaching, clubs across England are still looking for additions to their club.

This is no different for AFC Bournemouth who are looking to add to their two signings this window in Fraser Forster and Alex Toth.

The window has added pressure for the Cherries as their injury list continues to grow.

Absences to Justin Kluivert, Tyler Adam, David Brooks and Marcus Tavernier in addition to the departure of Antoine Semenyo means the Cherries need plenty of newcomers through the door.

The January transfer window is difficult for clubs to manage as clubs don’t want to lose players which means it becomes more difficult to buy.

Sky Sports journalist Mark McAdam, who covers the Cherries, spoke on what is a chaotic window: “We love the chaos of the window.

“The great thing about it is it’s unpredictable. You never know when you’re going to get a phone call, a message or an email that drops onto your phone that this is happening and get on it.

“It’s then all systems go and that is what’s so brilliant about it.”

“It’s normally a reactionary window when players fill injuries and pounce on players who suddenly become available.”

Since Bill Foley’s arrival, AFC Bournemouth’s transfer budget has been boosted and have become one of the top teams in the league for spotting young talent.

Examples of this are Milos Kerkez who the Cherries bought for £15 million and sold for £45 million to Liverpool.

Illia Zabarnyi who was bought for £24 million and sold for £63 million to Champions League winners Paris Saint Germain.

Antoine Semenyo who was bought £10.5 million and sold for a rumoured £72 million to Manchester City.

The Cherries have a knack for selling great young talents. McAdam spoke more on the club’s transfer strategy.

McAdam said: “The strategy is simple. Buy low and sell high.

“Play an exciting brand of football and sign players who fit that brand of football.

“Buy young players that they can mould, develop, coach and improve and that’s the key!

“The footballing world is watching what they do.

“They don’t want to see a player for a year and lose him. They want four or five years and then move him on for a high fee.”

Looking at the 2025 summer window, many Cherries fans believe that the club sold too many players.

Dean Huijsen and Dango Ouattara adding to the departures of Kerkez, Zabarnyi and Kepa Arrizabalaga meant that the Cherries sold five players from their regular starting eleven.

McAdam believes that the business had to be done and it was good business at that. He said: “You just have to look at the business and who the club sold to.

“Real Madrid, the biggest club in the world. Dean Huijsen will want to go.

“PSG, European champions, Ilia Zabarnyi with a massive opportunity. Same with Milos Kerkez to Liverpool.

“Dango Ouattara got an opportunity to go to London and get more money. A big fee as well which the club couldn’t turn down.

McAdam notes how it might be disappointing for the fans to see players go and that Andoni Iraola also doesn’t want to see his squad drop in number.

McAdam said: “Ultimately the fans don’t want to lose players and Andoni Iraola doesn’t want to lose players.

“That’s part of the business model. It doesn’t look great but what it does show is the attractiveness of the football club.

“There are talented players being produced that can go on to play in the biggest clubs of the world.

“It was a weird window to cover because you don’t know what the future will hold.

“They are a very different side compared to last season. It will be remembered as the ‘Summer they sold everyone’ but also the summer that put Bournemouth on the map.”

The Cherries are looking to add more additions with ten days of the window left and hoping they can get more men through the door.