FREE agent Jordon Ibe said it just “didn’t click” under Eddie Howe at Cherries, as the winger embarks on the next stage of his career.

Londoner Ibe saw his contract run out at the Dorset club at the turn of the month, with the likes of Crystal Palace and Celtic now linked with a move for the 24-year-old.

Ibe had joined Cherries from Liverpool for around £15million in July 2016 but made just four senior appearances this season before his deal expired.

His last appearance came in a 2-0 Carabao Cup defeat to Burton back in September.

Manager Howe admitted a “combination of reasons” were behind Ibe’s disappointing Cherries career and said: “It just didn’t quite work here.”

Asked whether there was more the Cherries boss could have done to get the best out of him, Ibe told The Beautiful Game podcast: “I think he tried his hardest but it’s hard to say because, you know, this will go everywhere.

“I think he tried his hardest, to be fair, but it just didn’t click.”

Quizzed on what he felt went wrong at Cherries, the former Wycombe Wanderers youngster said: “I don’t want to talk too much. I don’t know. I can’t pinpoint it.”

Earlier this year, Ibe had been banned from driving and hit with a fine after crashing his Bentley into a London coffee shop.

He also issued an apology back in May after appearing to breach the coronavirus lockdown guidelines to get a haircut.

Asked for a response to the bad press he has received, Ibe said: “I am in the lime light, people look up to me – even if I’m playing for Bournemouth. People look up to anyone else in the team and other teams.

“But there was a lot of pressure and bad light put on me and it just took all my confidence away.

“I was stressed out.

“I just wanted to go back home – which is London.”

Asked whether he was in a better place now, the winger replied: “Yeah, definitely. I’m not thinking those stupid thoughts anymore because I was getting too much stress.”

Ibe is now training at home while available on a free transfer and is trying to keep up his fitness.

He added: “Our family here. They sort out a nutritionist for me. My cousin sorted out a PT for me, so we train a couple of times a week.

“I’ve got the Peleton bike and that keeps me sweating as well in the house.

“It’s very weird. I have never been in this position before. I feel like it would have been different if I was going as a free transfer at the appropriate time.

“But everything has been pushed back, so it’s a bit different.

“The phone has been ringing. I don’t answer though. I leave that to my mum and step dad.”