Chris Mepham and Kieffer Moore: Bournemouth's Wales duo facing potential January exits
- Published
Bournemouth defender Chris Mepham has won 44 caps for Wales since his debut in 2018
Bournemouth defender Chris Mepham says he will need to be "open to all options" after a frustrating spell of limited first-team football.
The 26-year-old has made seven club appearances this season, while striker Kieffer Moore has not started a league game for the Cherries this campaign.
Manager Andoni Iraola has suggested Moore could leave the club in January, and Mepham could follow the striker.
"The lads are flying, doing really well," Mepham told BBC Radio Solent.
"Individually it's tough, I have been in this position quite a few times with limited game time.
"Ultimately when the team is doing as well as they are there's not a lot you can do other than keep pushing in training and see where it takes you."
Mepham and Moore will both been eager for more game time as Wales prepare to qualify for the 2024 European Championships through the play-offs in March.
Wales manager Rob Page has told players not playing regularly at their clubs to look for moves elsewhere.
"You never want to really settle for being just a squad player that can come in once every now and then," said Mepham.
"I certainly value myself as being better than that. It wouldn't be in my character to be content with that.
The next couple of years are important for me. I'll hopefully have the Euros in the summer and it's important to play week-in-week-out.
"If you are not getting the game time you want and need to you have to be open to all options."
Kieffer Moore (right) has played just 93 minutes of Premier League action this season
Moore, who has 12 international goals in 39 caps for Wales, could be in line for a rare start this weekend as Bournemouth face QPR in the FA Cup third round.
Moore's former club, Cardiff City, have already expressed their interest in re-signing the Wales international, with Bluebirds boss Erol Bulut saying in November they "are working hard on it".
Iraola said the target man had been close to an exit last summer, and would not rule out a move away from the Vitality Stadium for Moore during this transfer window.
"He was close in the summer market to leaving the club, but every party decided he stayed with us," said Iraola.
"He has been helping the team a lot, but not probably playing as many minutes as he wants.
"Dom (Solanke) has been really performing at a good level and it is difficult to take him out of the game when we are playing with just one forward.
"It will be something that he (Moore) will have a lot to say about this, for me it's the most important part to listen to the players.
"Some players will prefer to stay and improve their roles, others will prefer to leave for different places where they can probably play more.
"If that's the player's opinion, the clubs start to negotiate and make the numbers work."