EDDIE Howe believes he has assembled “the best AFC Bournemouth squad I have ever seen” and admits he is “a lot happier” following the arrivals of Max Gradel and Lee Tomlin.
Cherries boss Howe yesterday brought his number of summer signings to eight following a double swoop for St Etienne winger Gradel and Middlesbrough frontman Tomlin.
And while Howe revealed he had no immediate plans to make any further additions, he is not ruling out the possibility of more signings before the window closes at the start of next month.
Howe signed permanently goalkeepers Artur Boruc and Adam Federici, defenders Tyrone Mings and Sylvain Distin and frontman Joshua King, while Chelsea’s Christian Atsu joined on a season-long loan.
In an exclusive interview with the Daily Echo, Howe said: “I am delighted because I think, individually, they all add something different. They make us better and stronger, which we certainly needed going into the league we are going into.
“We have improved the physicality and pace. I am excited with this squad and think it is the best AFC Bournemouth one I have ever seen, which it had to be. Certainly, we look in good shape now.”
Asked whether he had plans to further bolster, Howe replied: “That is probably the end in the immediacy but whether it is the end before the window closes, I don’t know. I am certainly a lot happier after yesterday’s business.
“We’ve got really good strength in depth and that is something we needed considering we can’t loan players once the window has shut.
“We are going to need everybody to play their part and I think we now have a squad where everyone is strong enough to come in and play.”
Discussing Tomlin’s signing, Howe said: “Lee was someone we had been aware of for a long time and he did very well in the two games against us last season.
“When we lost Brett Pitman in the summer, naturally there became a hole for a second number 10 and that is the position Lee has played for his whole career.
“He is technically very good and slightly different to other players we have in the squad who can fill that position so that made him very attractive to us.
“He falls in line with a lot of the players in our squad and will have to prove he can play Premier League football.
“I believe a lot of our players can make the step up and as we are not in a position where we can sign established Premier League players, we are having to give players these opportunities.
“I certainly think he will improve our squad. He was outstanding for Middlesbrough against Manchester City in the FA Cup last season and, if he can reproduce those type of performances then we will have signed a very good player.”
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