After a record-breaking season in the Premier League, it should come as no surprise that AFC Bournemouth fans can expect a busy summer transfer window ahead.
It was a season like no other for Andoni Iraola’s side, who managed a record-equalling 9th– place finish after achieving their best-ever points total back in April.
Finishing up on 56 for the season, the Cherries have now already had to say goodbye to one of their brightest sparks.
Dean Huijsen, made 30 appearances this campaign, earning his first caps for the Spanish national team too in March following impressive form, but now he’s moving to his homeland for good.
Real Madrid activated the 20-year-old’s £50 million release clause in May, making him the first, of the many expected to depart Dean Court this summer.
With Huijsen having departed, Cherries fans can expect another defender to be leaving almost imminently too, as left-back Milos Kerkez has been heavily linked with a move away.
Premier League champions Liverpool have been linked with the Hungarian for some time now and according to numerous reports, the Hungarian is rumoured to be in advanced talks over a switch to Merseyside.
Kerkez has now been relieved of his ongoing international duty, for ‘private’ reasons, ahead of their fixture against Azerbaijan on Tuesday night while he was also left out of Friday night’s friendly meeting with Sweden in Budapest.
And that’s not all for the Bournemouth defence, Champions League winners PSG, are said to have enquired about Ukrainian centre-back Illia Zabarnyi, while Chris Mepham who has spent the season on loan at Sunderland, is also a likely departure.
Looking further up the pitch, Antoine Semenyo could also potentially leave Dean Court this summer.
The 25-year-old managed 11 goals and five assists in his 37 appearances this season, and has since been linked with transfers elsewhere in the Premier League to the likes of Manchester United most recently.
Without doubt, it’s a huge summer ahead for Andoni Iraola in terms of recruitment, but it’s not out of the question to consider whether the Spaniard will remain on the south coast himself.
Brentford’s Thomas Frank has emerged as the early favourite to replace Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham after his recent sacking, but Iraola is also understood to be in the frame.
For now, though, the Cherries will need to focus on replacing Dean Huijsen and Milos Kerkez as early as possible.
Bournemouth recruited full-back Julio Soler back in January, but it still remains unclear whether the Paraguayan is ready for the Premier League, having featured just three times since his arrival.
Stade Rennais full-back Adrien Truffert is the most likely candidate to replace Kerkez, as reports suggest a five-year deal has been agreed between the two sides.
Truffert, 23, has featured in 33 games for Rennes this season in Ligue 1 with two goals and two assists for the French outfit.
A central defender will certainly be on the agenda for Iraola as-well, early reports suggest that a 15 million euros bid for Bologna’s John Lucumi has been rejected, with the Italian side aiming to attain beyond 20 million euros for the sale.
Reports also suggest that Liverpool’s Joe Gomez could be of interest, although a substantial £25 million price tag has been set.
One area the Bournemouth will almost certainly be looking to strengthen this summer is between the sticks.
Last season, it was Chelsea loanee Kepa Arrizabalaga who was trusted as the first-choice keeper, with Neto and Mark Travers enjoyed loan spells at Arsenal and Middlesbrough, respectively.
The latter two however are also likely departures this summer window, while at this moment in time, it also appears, that Bournemouth will not be activating Kepa’s £5 million release clause.
Arsenal have already emerged as favourites to sign the Spaniard as a back-up to David Raya.
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