RUMOURED Cherries target Jesper Karlsson admitted he pushed for a departure from Eredivisie side AZ over the summer – stating how he would like “new challenges and new environments”.

Dutch national newspaper De Telegraaf reported in August that alongside La Liga outfit Celta Vigo, Cherries made a bid rumoured to be in the region of €15million.

That was rejected by Alkmaar, who entered discussions with the Swedish international over his future amidst all the interest.

A winger by trade, Karlsson has missed the start of the season due to injury, and is still currently sidelined.

In an interview with Swedish publication fotbollskanalen, Karlsson commented on his situation over the summer: “There was injury, I missed the national team (Nations League call up in June), and then a lot of discussions between me and AZ. 

“I wanted one thing and they had another plan. I'm a professional and I have a contract, so I had to listen, while I had to say what I wanted and felt, but it's not something I can influence now, so it's just to focus on coming back and playing football. 

“I felt that I had good seasons and had a good time since I came here, while I like new challenges and new environments to see how well I can do there too. I was very hungry for it after the season, but such is football, and I have signed a contract with AZ.

“If there was a move, AZ was clearly involved, and there were large sums, but it was nothing that I could influence. 

“I don't know what to say, I'm just trying to focus on what I can do now.”

“It's a sign that I do good things, and then I work hard, and have done so all along. I know what level I am at, and I can get even better. It's fun of course.” 

It remains to be seen if Cherries reignite their interest in the January window, with the south coast side currently having 25 players registered for Premier League games. That means any incoming players will have to be offset by outgoing, or Cherries will have players on the books unable to play league games.