NOTTINGHAM Forest winger Michail Antonio is the latest player to be linked with a summer move to Cherries.

Antonio, 25, has been the subject of fierce speculation with West Bromwich Albion, Aston Villa and Swansea linked to swoops for his services.

Signed for £1.5million from Sheffield Wednesday at the start of last season, Antonio was voted player of the year at the City Ground having been ever present in the Championship.

The Daily Star reports Cherries are prepared to bid £7.5million for Antonio, although the same article links the Dean Court club with a bumper offer for QPR striker Charlie Austin, a rumour that boss Eddie Howe vehemently refuted in an exclusive interview with the Daily Echo last week.

Meanwhile, the Daily Mail reports Cherries face fresh competition from fellow newly-promoted rivals Watford for Saint-Etienne winger Max Gradel.

Various reports in France and England over the past week have suggested Cherries were closing in on their former loan star but the Hornets are said to have upped the ante by matching the French club’s asking price of £7million.

  • Italian club Chievo Verona have formally announced defender Filippo Costa’s season-long loan switch to Cherries.

The 20-year-old left-sided defender played 26 times during a loan spell with Pisa in Italy’s third tier last season.

Costa had previously tweeted about the switch and although Cherries have yet to confirm the transfer, it is understood he will link up with Stephen Purches’s under-21 squad.