State of play at AFC Bournemouth ahead of transfer deadline

Cherries have completed a vast array of signings – eight in total, if you include the permanent signing of Hamed Traore after his loan spell last term.

Tyler Adams and Alex Scott have arrived from Championship sides Leeds United and Bristol City respectively to strengthen the Cherries midfield, whilst reinforcements at full-back has seen Max Aarons and Milos Kerkez brought in.

Transfer Deadline Day 2023: live updates from Cherries

Andrei Radu has arrived on loan to bolster Cherries’ goalkeeping options, and to allow Mark Travers to go out temporarily to Stoke City.

Wingers Justin Kluivert and Romain Faivre round off Cherries’ business so far, although the latter will spend the 2023-24 campaign on loan at FC Lorient.

New boss Andoni Iraola is happy with the players he has at his disposal. Most areas of concern has been addressed.

Cherries lost two left-backs in the summer – Jordan Zemura on a free to Udinese, whilst Matias Vina’s loan move from Roma was not made permanent.

Whilst they only brought one natural left-back in this summer, in the form of Kerkez, Lloyd Kelly can play there, as well as Aarons.

Tottenham's last-minute interest in Kelly has stepped up, with a £20million bid rejected earlier today.

Despite the fact Kelly's contract expires at the end of the season, Cherries are likely to resist offers to avoid having to return to the market and find depth at left-back and centre-half.

Most, if not all, of Cherries remaining business seems dependent on outgoings. This line of thinking has been repeated by Iraola for some time now, especially after the confirmation of Tyler Adams’ arrival from Leeds United.

Jamal Lowe has trained away from the first team all pre-season, having been told that his future lies elsewhere.

Cherries spent £1.5million to lure the attacker to the south of England from Swansea in 2021, and with just six months remaining on his deal, it is not beyond the realm of possibility that an agreement could be found to end his contract prematurely if a permanent transfer or loan move cannot be agreed.

That being said, Lowe’s status is unlikely to impact other business at Cherries, considering the Jamaican international has been deemed surplus to requirements throughout the window.

The Premier League usually announces confirmed 25-man squads for the season a few weeks after the window closes, meaning only an educated guess can be made in regard to currently registered players.

Clubs can continue to make alterations to their registered squad up until the closing of the window, meaning it is not set in stone that Gavin Kilkenny will be given a spot, for example.

Currently Cherries have 23 players in the first-team picture that would have to be registered to feature in the Premier League, with five players – Ben Greenwood, Kerkez, Scott, Dango Ouattara and Illia Zabarnyi – all born after January 1 2002, the cut-off point for players to be classed as under-21.

Although Cherries have strengthened in central midfield this window, they are still light on numbers in the short term as Scott and Adams are currently sidelined.

Duo Ben Greenwood and Gavin Kilkenny had their contracts extended this summer (Pic: Richard Crease) (Image: Richard Crease)

After two loan spells last term, Kilkenny signed a short-term extension with Cherries in the summer, but it appears game time will be minimal.

With space remaining in their squad, there is the possibility that Kilkenny could remain to offer depth, but so far Cherries have not turned to the Ireland international whilst short on numbers.

It appears Kilkenny’s future lies away from Dean Court, especially with Scottish clubs reportedly interested.

Greenwood is another to have signed a contract extension this summer, and it is likely Cherries will look to find him a loan for more senior football.

Similarly, Dominic Sadi could also make a temporary switch to a league side, or perhaps follow Will Dennis north of the border to Scotland.

However, with a full schedule for the development squad this term thanks to the Professional Development League, there is a stronger reason to keep youngsters at the club.

Kieffer Moore could have a busy deadline day ahead (Pic: Richard Crease) (Image: Richard Crease)

Kieffer Moore, a deadline day signing from Cardiff City in January 2022, could be set for a return trip in the final hours of this window.

The Bluebirds have been heavily linked with the Welsh international all window, with their manager Erol Bulut certainly not keeping quiet about the interest.

" Of course, Kieffer Moore or other strikers in the press, all of them are good players,” explained Bulut.

“But we have to be realistic with what we can get because of the economics.

"Of course I would like to see him here but it's not an easy move."

However, as pointed out by the Turk, Cardiff are not exactly swimming with cash, making the finances behind a deal very difficult.

It appears that only in the event Moore leaves Cherries will the club return to the market, with one name mentioned.

Whilst it is understood that Cherries have not previously made a bid for Che Adams, the striker very much is on the radar and a move may become feasible as the window nears its end.

But competition is fierce for the Scotland international, with Everton having a bid rejected earlier in the window.

Wolves now seemingly lead the way in the race for the Scot's signature.

Similarly, the Daily Echo understands that no move has been made for Patson Daka, another striker at a recently relegated club in the form of Leicester City that has been linked with Cherries.

Iraola also believes that Antoine Semenyo can operate as a number nine – an assessment the Ghanaian international agrees with.

Summer signing Justin Kluivert is another name that has been mentioned as capable of leading the line, although in more makeshift circumstances.

As such, there is a general feeling that Cherries will make do with their striking options for now, unless there is a departure – most likely the aforementioned Moore.

Talisman Dominic Solanke has been subject to interest from London clubs West Ham and Fulham.

The Daily Echo understands that West Ham made an enquiry into the availability of the one-time England international, but were instantly rebuffed as Cherries slapped a large price tag on their star striker.

With little time to source a proper replacement, it is believable that Cherries would require an even larger fee to consider parting ways with the former Liverpool and Chelsea man.