AFCB's defensive worries may still mean further transfer activity

As usual Eddie Howe keeps his cards close to his chest. He has the money to spend if he so wishes to add to AFCB's defence, but he has already brought many players in this summer and it is questionable why he has not felt it necessary to think more about strengthening his back four this summer rather than the attacking options which he has been keener to get in.

Brad Smith and Nathan Aké are the signings that have added more strength to the back line and they now look strong candidates to have some involvement in the first game of the season. While a settled tam is what every manager wants to quickly see evolve it may take the Cherries up to the September break before we see the side really take on its more predictable personnel. That may be even more the case if the transfer market is looked at yet again. The window may be open to the end of August but the players that move now may well attract higher fees with bidders getting more eager to secure their final links in their squads.

Nathan Aké might not be the only player
that AFCB sign to play centre-back.

While names have been banded about such as Steven Caulker, Nedum Onuoha, Lewis Dunk and Jonny Evans, any moves for players could be dependent on other sales going through before teams can release players and it could be a waiting game. The loan option is also there and it was interesting to see Man Utd signal that it could be time up for players like U19 Cameron Borthwick-Jackson could appeal to Howe who has already started to stack up on young international potential.

Personally, I'd like to see an experienced defender come in and Jonny Evans would be my pick. Jason Tindall continues to be questioned by the local press over whether the side is strong enough defensively having seen Elphick and Distin depart, but he and Eddie seem convinced that the side is strong enough if the season started today and that Tyrone Mings could be viewed as a defender that can play at centre-back. That is quite an ask for Tyrone though having not had much of a taste of the Premier League yet so my instinct tells me that there will be a bid for another centre-back in the coming days.

Match Day Gallery has a few pictures from last night's warm up with Valencia.

Does Distin complete the defensive picture for AFCB?

With Sylvain Distin poised to sign for the Cherries this week, is there still need for further additions in this section of the team? If Eddie Howe wants to play three at the back on occasion there could be need for more cover I suppose and there are no shortage of candidates.

AFCB are already expecting to go to FC Nantes to play a testing pre-season match in July, but have they more interest than that at the French club? Several reports have linked the Cherries with interest in Papy Djilobodji who is a centre back for the Ligue 1 club. As a Senegalise player Papy has won a couple of caps and if as believed, Sylvain Distin has all but signed for the Cherries it would perhaps be an attractive move for the Senagalise international to add to the French speakers at AFCB.

At 26, Papy is arguably in the prime of his career and with his success in Ligue 1 it is going to take a fair bit of negotiation to get him to part with FC Nantes. He has helped the club rise from Ligue 2 and will be very at home playing at the La Beaujoire-Louis Fonteneau stadium. Rated as a £5 million player, he is also being tracked by Southampton and I'd expect the Saints to be favourites to sign him.

Another possibility is Steven Caulker who has been strongly linked with a move from QPR to AFCB. With an asking fee that could top £8 million though it is not the cheap option. Whether the 23-year-old is considered splashing out for or not we will see in the coming weeks, but if he did sign for the Cherries it will put real pressure on Howe to play him ahead of one of AFCB's regular centre backs and it could mean the end to the club's most successful centre back partnership.

Elliott Ward could find his opportunities more
limited if more central defenders are signed. 

Caulker was part of QPR's relegated side from last season and that experience will not have been great for him and he also went through the same punishment with Cardiff City the season before. It is perhaps a recognition of how confident Eddie Howe is in Jason, Simon and his coaching abilities that they might be able to succeed more with Steven Caulker than the fallen Premier League sides have done.  

While the imminent signing of Sylvain Distin would seem adequate cover for the central back position, a younger rising star to also pressure Cook and Elphick would really put the centre back positions up for grabs. It might be particularly bad news for Elliott Ward who has missed a lot of football and will be desperate to show that he can still play in the Premier League, while Baily Cargill has already stated that he does not want a loan move away from AFCB.

The latest player who continues to be linked with AFCB is £5 million-rated Max Gradel of St Etienne, as reported by the Daily Mirror.

Premier Talk
Premier Talk highlights Swansea City and their accepted $5 million bid for Portuguese striker Eder and I ask what about Michu's future?

Sylvain Distin ready to sign 'in principle' for Cherries

It would appear that Eddie Howe has been camped out at Everton's training ground with news that Sylvain Distin is another player on Merseyside who is linked with making a summer move to AFC Bournemouth. Both the BBC and SkySports have reports that the experienced centre back is ready to move in principle on a free transfer after becoming a free agent.

This means that AFCB have done some serious negotiation and enticing to get the Frenchman to agree to a move to the south coast as he was earlier reported this summer to be eyeing a move back to France to play out his career. The 37-year-old is lined up to have a medical and that should see him able to sign for the Cherries very soon.

Having played in the Premier League for many seasons at Newcastle, Man City and Portsmouth as well as Everton it is hard to find a more experienced centre back to join newly promoted AFCB. While he might not be as quick as he used to be Sylvain is still recognised as a top defender and AFCB will need some steel about them and more know how. I also believe it will be inspirational and beneficial for younger players like Baily Cargill to see how a player who has been at the top for a long time goes about his work. He played 12 games last season for Everton in the Premier League, which indicates he will be cover for the centre back positions along with Elliott Ward. Distin also played in two cup games and three Europa League matches and in previous seasons he has managed in the region of 30 games a season.

My only concern is that such a signing could give other Premier League sides the signal to try and entice Steve Cook away from the Cherries. Reports last week about QPR's Steven Caulker joining the Cherries also seem less likely now with Distin choosing to the join the Cherries.

There is also a report on FLW, but unconfirmed that AFCB have made a new bid Demaria Gray of Birmingham City.