Who do Cherries need on deadline day?

The fans always want one more signing and while the injuries have complicated the final moments of the transfer window for Eddie Howe it is likely that there will be more than one addition to the squad come 6pm tonight. All the talk though has been about strikers and midfielders coming to AFCB.

Things certainly started moving last night. Crystal Palace have been rather keen to hold on to their players and even though they have strengthened. Alan Pardew looks set to keep Dwight Gayle but Glenn Murray has been allowed to talk to AFCB for some £4 million. As long as personal terms and the medical is passed Murray should be revealed as a Cherries player later today.

One signing that has been quite a tussle between the Cherries, Everton, Hamburg and Sunderland is Napoli's midfielder Jonathan De Guzman, who is set for a season loan move to AFCB with the option to buy him next season, but the midfielder was said to go missing yesterday when he was supposed to catch a plane for his medical at Dean Court. Apparently he wanted more time to think over the move.I expect we'll hear more on this later today.

But what other signings might AFCB make today - Charlie Austin, Lewis Grabban?

Eddie may have his eyes on more targets yet.

The need for another striker of note is perhaps the tantalising signing that may just be out of reach if the left defensive side of the team is now more important to reinforce. Man Utd were suddenly made favourites to land QPR's Charlie Austin over the weekend, but the connection with the Cherries has never really died down despite Eddie Howe saying it's is not possible for the club to bring him to the Vitality stadium. Such a statement from the manager was so strong that I feel those that have stacked their money on it happening may well be disappointed by the end of this evening - but I'd love to be proved wrong. The Daily Mirror seems to have the Austin move nailed on for AFCB.

Do you want him back? AFCB fans' conscience might be tested if Afobe 

goes to Norwich and Grabban is surplus to needs in East Anglia.

More likely perhaps is the return of Lewis Grabban, despite his foolish attempts to force a deal through last week which only ended in him being suspended. Whether Alex Neil would want rid of the striker now is intriguing, because of the baggage now surrounding Lewis Grabban - is he really wanted at Carrow Road anymore? His previous history may not make him among the most popular returnees if Eddie Howe decides to go back in for him. Norwich could play hard ball as well just to remind Lewis that he must honour his contract with the Canaries. Any deal is perhaps dependent on Wolves, who have repeatedly turned down Norwich's target - Benik Afobe. Unless the Afobe is allowed to talk to Norwich, there could be no move for Grabban.

It is a tough market out there and deals are seldom simple. So it is at this time that Eddie Howe may also be thinking if he can attract an extra player by giving a club a player or two in return to secure a new signing. That could mean loan moves for players like Stanislas, MacDonald, Camp, Rantie (a loan target for Reading, says the Bournemouth Echo) or Kermorgant. It should be an exciting day and if no one comes in but AFCB keep their current squad I will not be too disappointed with that.

If AFCB can put funds into the Development squad to bring on home-grown players for next season I would be even prouder of the club. But the financial implications of falling out of the Premier League are now so huge that if it means the club needs to sign more players in this window then so be it.


Out today - Cherry Chimes' September Newsletter brings you the best stories on the blog and the thoughts behind them from last month, plus a special Newsletter article entitled Tactical battles have to be won.

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