Cherries closing in on deal for Mandas

AFC Bournemouth are closing in on a deal for Lazio goalkeeper Christos Mandas according to Fabrizio Romano.

The 24-year-old has made 18 appearance for Lazio since 2023 and has already racked up 2 appearances for the Greek national team.

Summer signing Djorde Petrovic has struggled as of late, ad with the only other goalkeepers currently on the cherries books being 37-year-old Fraser Forster and 25-year-old Will Dennis, who is yet to make his league debut.

Mandas will provide excellent and well-needed competition for Andoni Iraola’s side, especially with his team in the midst of an injury crisis.

The deal would see Mandas join on an initial 6-month-loan deal, with an option to buy included for 22 million euros in the summer.

Mandas will be AFC Bournemouth’s second signing of the January window, joining young Hungarian Alex Toth who was announced by the club earlier this morning.

Toth joins from Hungarian giants Ferencvaros in a deal worth an initial £10.4 Million, with fee potentially rising to £13.2 Million with add ons.

The young midfielder will provide immediate cover for the injured Tyler Adams, and his versatility will make him a useful asset for Iraola’s across the midfield and also across the front line.

The cherries have also been strongly linked to Brazilian wonderkid Rayan over the course of the transfer window.

The 19-year-old plays for Brazilian outfit Vasco De Gama, where he racked up 20 goals and  1 assists in all competitions last season.

The teenager would most likely be a direct replacement for Antione Semenyo, who departed the club in a £65 Million pound deal to Manchester City earlier in the window.

Bournemouth are rumoured to have discussed a 35 Million Euro deal with Vasco De Gama, but the Brazilians are holding out for a deal closer to 50 Million Euros.

Currently on-loan defender Alex Jimenez is on the verge of making his short term deal permanent. The Spanish defender on-loan from AC Milan will trigger a £22 Million pound obligation to buy once he has made 18 Premier League starts for the Cherries.

With 14 starts under his belt already, it is expected that the player will sign permanently before the end of the January transfer window.

The transfer window closes at 7pm on the 2^nd of February and Bournemouth will be hoping to add both Mandas and Rayan to Iraola’s squad.