Latest Liverpool transfer news as Bournemouth manager addresses summer interest in Antoine Semenyo, Milos Kerkez and Dean Huijsen
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has addressed widely-reported transfer interest in his key players, looking ahead to the approaching summer transfer window. Liverpool have been credited with interest in attacker Antoine Semenyo, plus defenders Milos Kerkez and Dean Huijsen.
The ECHO understands Kerkez – a Hungarian international teammate of Reds No.8 Dominik Szoboszlai – is a player the club have taken an interest towards this season whilst also watching other left-back targets. Meanwhile Huijsen, 20, has also been highly impressive with a number of Premier League clubs reportedly watching him, and it is known that the Spaniard will have a £50m release clause active once the window opens.
Looking further upfield from the Cherries’ defence, attacker Semenyo is most recently suggested to be monitored by Liverpool in what could end up being a busy summer for the newly-crowned Premier League champions.
Speaking to Sky Sports, the trio’s manager, Iraola, has been open about Bournemouth’s preparation in the event any of their star players were to be allowed to move on this summer.
“I don’t think it’s any different from previous years, especially when the team has done a good job,” he began. “It happened to us last season. We didn’t know what was going to happen with some players. We lost Lloyd Kelly and after that Dom Solanke.
We don’t really know what is going to happen in the summer, we are still focused on other things, but right now all the players are ours and, if nothing happens, they will continue to be ours next season also. So I don’t think it’s going to be different from other summers.
“We will focus on trying to improve the team, and add new players if we can, and if some player leaves because someone comes with what the club considers to be a good offer, we have to be ready for those situations, but not with fear.
“It is something that all the clubs, especially the ones who are not at the highest level like the top, top teams, have to get used to.”
With the Reds now confirmed to lift the Premier League trophy on the final day of the campaign, they can afford to take a wider view of the division and players that have the potential to make the step up to Anfield.
Bournemouth are going to be locked in a tight battle for European qualification. Heading into the final four matches of the season they have 50 points, sitting 10th, but are only one point shy of eighth, attempting to make the Europa Conference League next term.