Bournemouth

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Bournemouth's hands "may well be tied" regarding Antoine Semenyo's £65m release clause which can be activated during the first two weeks of the January transfer window, believes Bournemouth Echo's Alexander Smith.

The 25-year-old attracted interest from several clubs in the summer transfer window, including Manchester United and Tottenham, but opted to sign a new five-year deal at Vitality Stadium on 1 July.

Since then, he has made a stellar start to the season, scoring six goals and providing three assists in 11 Premier League games.

"[£65m] seems very low," Smith told the Cherries: Unpicked podcast. "It's clearly the figure the club felt needed to be included in Semenyo's contract for him to even sign a new deal in the summer.

"It will be a bargain for whoever ends up coming in for him.

"We are getting towards the end of November, the festive games are coming up and January isn't too far away, so I wonder if this is all part and parcel of his agent getting the word out there, trying to make a few waves and prick some ears up."

Champions Liverpool have been linked with a January move for the Ghana forward in recent days and Smith says the nature of his release clause adds an extra element into negotiations.

"The release clause coming back in force again next summer is interesting," he said. "Bournemouth are going to have to weigh up whether it's worth letting him go in January and bringing some extra cash in or whether it's worth keeping him and potentially finishing higher up the table, which would bring some cash in.

"Their hands may well be tied, but his relationship with the club could potentially become a factor for him sticking around. He seems to really love it so there won't be a sense of him being desperate to leave.

"However if Liverpool come in for him and they are willing to meet his release clause plus to match or better his current wage, it's going to be awfully enticing.

"From Bournemouth's point of view, they could get one or two players that can cover multiple positions in their forward line with the money.

"It could be a busy January window if he does leave."

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport senior journalist

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As Scotland's celebrations of their first World Cup qualification since 1998 continued into Tuesday night, Bournemouth fans could be forgiven for expressing concern for winger Ben Gannon-Doak.

The 20-year-old had left Scotland's final qualifier on a stretcher with an apparent hamstring injury, though he was later seen up on his feet and joining in with the celebrations.

Antoine Semenyo, Tyler Adams and Justin Kluivert also withdrew from or left their countries' training camps because of injuries.

So, less than a fortnight after briefly having his entire first-team squad available, head coach Andoni Iraola may have to shuffle his pack for Saturday's game against West Ham.

However, the 2026 World Cup will potentially have more Cherries players involved than all of the previous 22 editions of the tournament put together.

Striker Colin Clarke broke new ground in 1986 when he became the first Bournemouth player to be called up to a World Cup squad, playing and scoring for Northern Ireland, while Gerry Peyton was the Republic of Ireland's back-up goalkeeper in 1990.

It was then a long wait until 2022 for Cherries representation, with Chris Mepham and Kieffer Moore taking their places in Wales' first World Cup squad since 1958.

But at least double that number are likely to be involved next year, even if Wales and other sides do not make it through the play-offs.

As for the teams that have already qualified, having started both of the past two qualifiers, Gannon-Doak and Ryan Christie are surely already on the plane with Scotland if fit, as are Semenyo (Ghana) and Adams (USA).

Sitting in the departure lounge, with a reasonable hope of selection if not 100% guaranteed, are Kluivert (Netherlands), Marcos Senesi (Argentina) and Amine Adli (Morocco).

Waiting in the standby line on possible call-ups for now are Alex Scott (who failed to make it off the England bench this week), Julian Araujo (Mexico), Julio Soler (Argentina), Daniel Jebbison (Canada) and Alex Paulsen (New Zealand).

If Hamed Traore (Ivory Coast) and Luis Sinisterra (Colombia) make it to the World Cup, they may well no longer even nominally be Bournemouth players by then, if the obligation-to-buy clauses in their season-long loans are triggered before the tournament.

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Bournemouth Echo's Alexander Smith says there was "never any sense of panic" at Vitality Stadium despite Andoni Iraola losing five of his mainstay players in a busy summer transfer window after the club's record-breaking 2024-25 season.

Over the past two seasons, the club have sold the likes of Dominic Solanke to Tottenham for £65m, Milos Kerkez to Liverpool for £40m, Dean Huijsen to Real Madrid for £50m, Illia Zabarnyi to Paris St-Germain for £57m and Dango Ouattara to Brentford for £42.5m.

Speaking on the Cherries: Unpicked podcast about how the club are coping without their big names, Smith said: "Beyond the Bournemouth bubble, people were saying the club were going to struggle and it was going to be tough, but within the bubble there was never any sense of panic.

"I didn't think the club would make this good of a start to the season, but I did think they would make a solid start.

"I didn't feel they were in any sort of trouble after the summer transfer window because they did well in terms of incomings and outgoings.

"Obviously, they had some headline departures, but they were good at moving on squad players and getting cash for those who weren't really involved last season.

"The club recruited well and it looked like they had replaced all the players they had lost - maybe not like-for-like but certainly in the positions they needed.

"So I was cautiously optimistic going into this season, and going on an eight-game unbeaten run early on was excellent and beyond expectations.

"The last two results [a 3-1 defeat by Manchester City and a 4-0 defeat by Aston Villa] have possibly brought the team back down to reality. They need to pick their levels up again after this international break."

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

Emlyn Begley
BBC Sport journalist

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The Africa Cup of Nations kicks off earlier than usual this year, with up to 17 Premier League clubs set to be affected by players jetting off to host country Morocco.

The tournament runs from 21 December until 18 January.

There has been no official announcement about which date clubs will have to release their players by - and it could vary depending on agreements.

Players could miss up to six, or in some cases seven, Premier League matches - plus FA Cup and Carabao Cup games - if they reach the final.

The group stages end on 31 December, so quickly eliminated players may only miss half that amount.

Arsenal, Chelsea and Leeds do not have any players due to play in the 2025 Afcon - with Sunderland and Wolves losing the most players.

• Aston Villa - 1

• Bournemouth - 1

• Brentford - 2

• Brighton - 1

• Burnley - 3

• Crystal Palace - 1 to 4

• Everton - 2 to 3

• Fulham - 3

• Liverpool - 1

• Manchester City - 2

• Manchester United - 3

• Newcastle United - 0 to 1

• Nottingham Forest - 1 to 4

• Sunderland - 7

• Tottenham - 1 to 2

• West Ham United - 2

• Wolves - 5

Read the full article here to know which players will feature at Afcon

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Bournemouth forward Enes Unal says he wants to "find the love for playing football again" and "help the lads" after returning to full squad training during the November international break following a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

The 28-year-old joined the Cherries on loan from Getafe in January 2024 before signing a four-year contract in May 2024 - but has since gone on to make just 35 appearances, scoring four goals and contributing four assists.

"It has been a tough couple of years with my two ACL [anterior cruciate ligament] injuries and one broken toe," Unal told the club's social media, external channels. "It feels great to be back with the team and to feel like a football player.

"As a person, I like to be positive and I like to tell myself that I'm always good but, when I look back on this situation, it was not good and I had many dark moments.

"But I kept growing as a human. I tried to focus on many different aspects of life and on myself as well, so in that sense it has been a blessing in disguise.

"At some points I was staying with my family, who are amazing, so I was really lucky that I wasn't alone in this process.

"I want to find the love for playing football again because I haven't felt that for a long time. I'm at the stage in my career where it is a day-by-day process, so I just want to have fun and be healthy.

"I just want to push myself to the limit and help the lads now because they are doing amazing.

"Now we are here, let's see how good I can play again."

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola is set to talk to the media before Saturday's match against West Ham on Friday, where it is expected he will give an update on Unal's return.

Tom Jordan
Fan writer

Which player is flying?: Antoine Semenyo. You cannot get away from the hype around Semenyo right now and it is justly deserved. Six goals and three assists in the Premier League so far for the Cherries wide man says it all.

Which player is floundering?: Justin Kluivert. It may feel a tad harsh on Justin but last campaign, he hit double figures for goals, whereas he currently just has the one to his name. Sure, he will find his form once more but Kluivert is struggling to nail down a place in the Bournemouth starting XI.

Tactically I think we… astute. Right now, I believe Andoni has his Cherries side incredibly well set up tactically. There's a real philosophy which centres around an aggressive press, high intensity and energy.

I want my manager to give me more of… Ryan Christie. Ryan was last season's player of the season but is currently finding it difficult to force his way into the side, following a pre-season injury. I feel as though we need to find a way to get Christie and his energy back into the team.

Our fans seem obsessed with…removing Marcus Tavernier from the starting line-up. It is somewhat to be expected given the alternative options, but he is a regular for a reason. His off-the-ball work, versatility and energy is exactly what Iraola wants from his players.

Instead, they should be thinking… how crucial the current fringe players could well become. Last season saw a drop-off with the side seemingly running out of legs. The fact we have an abundance of quality struggling for minutes right now is a positive. It is a long old season and they will all play their part.

My expectations were… a 14th-placed finish and steering clear of any relegation chatter. Now however, I'm dreaming of sneaking a European place.

Score so far: A strong 9/10 for me!

How I'm feeling right now: Pleasantly surprised with how well the club have adapted to losing key players, and I am excited about what's to come.

Find more from Tom Jordan at Back of the Net, external

Liverpool are leading the race to sign Bournemouth and Ghana forward Antoine Semenyo, 25, but Tottenham cannot be discounted. (Teamtalk, external)

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim admires Semenyo but meeting his £65m release clause with Bournemouth would be difficult for the club to do in January. (Athletic - subscription required), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

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We asked for your views on Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo's £65m release clause.

Here are some of your replies:

Peter: It would be a shame to see Semenyo go. Will he want to sit on a bench somewhere, as Dominic Solanke has? Let's hope not. If he goes he will be replaced, as Solanke was. We can't hope to match the money other clubs would pay him so, if he goes, good luck to him. I have no doubt we are already scouting for a replacement, if we feel we don't already have one on the books.

Bryan: That price is far too low.

Mark: £65m seems too cheap to me. I would personally put another £10m on top of that. He needs to be careful though, because we've had players go to big clubs and none of them have really settled. The only one who has is Deano [Dean Huijsen] at Real Madrid. Dominic Solanke is struggling at Spurs, Milos [Kerkez] is struggling at Liverpool, Zaba [Illia Zabarnyi] isn't having the best of times at PSG, [Lloyd] Kelly struggled at Newcastle and has left them now. So I do think he needs to take his time. Bournemouth might just be the right fit for him.

Paul: Well if he goes then we will have others lined up to come in. We do not need to keep any players who do not want to stay. Ryan Fraser comes to mind.

Over the past week, we have been asking you to send in the best Premier League XI your club could have put together.

We know football existed before 1992 but as a Leeds United fan asked our experts on the club to name theirs - using the Ask Me Anything form on the Whites - we stuck with their parameters.

Here's BBC Sport's Bournemouth fan writer Tom's effort.

And you can ask us about the Cherries using the Ask Me Anything form at the top of this page or here

Find more from Tom Jordan at Back of the Net, external

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BBC Radio Solent's Jordan Clark has said reports of a £65m release clause in Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo's contract are "absolutely accurate", but says clubs will have to meet that if Semenyo is to leave the club in January.

The 25-year-old only signed a new contract at Vitality Stadium this summer, extending his stay at the club to 2030.

"My understanding is that everything we are reading is absolutely accurate," said Clark. "We have known for quite a while that there's a release clause in his contract. It is pretty much the only reason Bournemouth got him to stay in the summer.

"There is a time frame on his release clause though. It will have to be activated before a certain point in the transfer window to then allow Bournemouth enough time to find a replacement.

"That time frame is believed to be a couple of weeks, which I don't think is a great amount of time to try to replace someone like him, especially in January.

"However, Bournemouth have told me they have a brilliant relationship with the player and they are going to do everything they can to try to get him to stay beyond January and into next summer.

"Liverpool have the Richard Hughes links, but I don't think they will be the only team interested in him for £65m.

"If a club is willing to pay that much in January, they are going to be getting an absolute bargain."

Clark added that "there is a chance maybe he stays because of the type of person he is" but "if it's a team he feels he can't turn down and they trigger that release clause, Bournemouth are going to be pretty powerless to stop him from going".

Listen to the full chat on BBC Sounds

Bournemouth fans, we want to know how you're feeling about the situation. Do you think Semenyo will stay or go? If he stays, what would that mean? If he goes, who would be the right replacement?

Tell us your thoughts

Liverpool's hopes of signing Antoine Semenyo, 25, from Bournemouth in the January transfer window have been dealt a blow with the Cherries unwilling to sell the Ghana winger during the season. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

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We have, roughly, run the numbers and here is the XI your submissions have produced.

It's turned up a solid mix of Bournemouth through their time in the Premier League years, with past heroes Callum Wilson and Artur Boruc joined in the line-up by this season's breakout stars Antoine Semenyo and Tyler Adams.

We think this team would cause quite a stir in the Premier League.

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

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The statistics might say playing at home is an advantage - but what happens when it is not?

So far this season, 53% of Premier League matches have been won by the home team - the highest ever rate in a single campaign.

On the flip side, just 26% have been won by the away team - the lowest rate since 2010-11.

However, this has not been the case for all teams.

For some, being on the road has been more favourable. Tottenham are perhaps the most contrasting example having the joint-most points away from home with 13, but the second-worst in front of their own fans with just five points.

In the second part of her chat with BBC Sport, performance psychologist Marie Cartwright explained: "With crowds when playing away from home, there is a reduced scrutiny as a whole for away teams in that those crowds expect the home team to be the ones in charge. The players feel less judged. The pressure is on the other side.

"Another reason could come down to something in psychology I like to call simplification of the task. The team has a better collective identity when they are away.

"The human brain still goes back to the cavemen days. We have to, as a collective, fight for something. We have to protect our name. It goes back to that hunter-gatherer-against-danger mentality.

"When players are in front of a home crowd, there can be a bit of playing up to the individuality.

"I really do believe that collective identity has a strong enough influence because it amplifies the purpose and the belonging - let's belong together, let's be stronger together."

The focus might be on the players' performances being impacted by being home or away, but what about the managers?

Wolves, West Ham and Nottingham Forest make up three of the bottom four for their home records so far this term, and all have changed their manager in recent weeks.

"100% managers and coaches can be affected, and sometimes even more so because there is so much riding on that one person," Cartwright said.

"The decision-making is the main thing. The crowd is chanting - 'take this player off, do this' - and it can lead to rushed decisions, particularly when the noise becomes relentless.

"Then there is the emotional regulation and touchline behaviour. A manager is pacing up and down, mirroring the stress state, and players see that. It can lead to mimicking and players feeling that stress too."

The impact on teams psychologically playing home or away is apparent, so how can they make the most from these different conditions?

"Our brains are wired to think negatively - it's a protection mechanism," Cartwright said.

"So when it comes to performing home and away, those players and managers who deal with it best are those who know how to use the noise and scrutiny and move on quickly from it - an ability to have a reset routine and regulate their emotions in these pressurised situations."

Read more from Marie in part one of her chat around the impact of playing at home here

With Mohamed Salah due to play for Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations in December and January, Liverpool continue to be linked with a January move for Bournemouth's 25-year-old forward Antoine Semenyo, whose country Ghana failed to qualify. (Liverpool Echo), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

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"Home advantage gives you an advantage."

It is a quote - among many - attributed to the famous former England manager Sir Bobby Robson - a simple, yet fair reflection of a historical format of football.

For as long as teams have played in leagues, games taking place home and away has been the norm, with the idea that playing at home will be to the benefit of that team.

But what is the impact of playing at your own ground in front of your own fans?

In the first part of her chat with BBC Sport, performance psychologist Marie Cartwright explained: "Home impact can be viewed in two ways. Sometimes it does have a positive impact, and what happens is there is an elevated motivation.

"What that means is the crowd energy increases adrenaline and that creates a momentum in effort and intensity in the players. It is also a familiar environment for the players, so that means it reduces the cognitive load. They don't have to think as much about anything else other than their play because they know the pitch, they know the routines, they feel settled.

"However, there are a couple of potential negative impacts as well, with the potential intensification in pressure in the home fans, most times, expecting dominance from the home team. That can lead to mistakes from players feeling bigger to them.

"There can then be what we call a threat state. The players might perceive consequences as high, so they feel they might be facing more criticism when they are at home."

While those who watch football know there are more factors than just where the match is being to take into consideration, the statistics do suggest the influence is there.

Since the Premier League started, the home win percentage has outweighed the away win percentage in all bar one season - the Covid-hit 2020-21 campaign in which fans were largely not allowed admission saw a 38% home win rate compared to 40% away win rate.

So how a team handles this additional crowd pressure seems to be a key factor.

"In psychology, there is something called the challenge and threat theory," Cartwright said.

"In reality what that means is a 'challenge state' can push the player into thinking, 'I've got this, I've got the resources to cope with this'. That leads to better decision making and quicker reactions.

"The threat state, on the other hand, players might think the consequences outweigh their ability to cope. In any match context, that can mean they have a narrow sense of focus, the focus is not quite the same, so the play becomes slower because of overthinking."

"It can also be called 'red brain or blue brain' - with red brain being the one with fear-based dialogue and internal negative self-talk, while blue brain is the cool, calm and collected one that can handle its emotions.

"What sits in the middle of these is distraction. How a player responds to distraction and filters out the noise, like the crowd, can impact which of these mindsets they move into and ultimately how the team performs."

Read more from Marie in part two of her chat about why teams some teams play better away from home and how it impacts managers - that will be on this page early next week.

We wanted your suggestions for Bournemouth's all-time best Premier League XI.

You sent in selections aplenty:

Dr Quaid: 4-3-3. Petrovic, Francis, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez, Adams, Christie, Gosling, Semenyo, King, Brooks. Height at the back, tenacity in midfield, and a mix of power and guile up front.

TFTSE: 4-4-2. Boruc - Bonkers but brilliant. Simon Francis - brilliant crosser. Steve Cook- defend his middle name. Nathan Ake - brilliant. Kerkez - better than Rico. Arter - "Leave it". Christie - the version since Iraloa arrived. Kluivert - shhoooottt. Semenyo - unstoppable. Brooks - love him. King - underrated. Brilliant for Bournemouth - All gave everything and more for the team. Honourable mentions for Solanke, Wilson, Huijsen, Zabarnyi, Elphick, Daniels, Ritchie, Pugh, Adams and Cook.

Alex: 4-5-1. Kepa, Truffert, Smith, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Semenyo, Adams, Tavernier, Christie, Lerma, Callum Wilson.

John: 4-2-3-1 - Howe's favourite structure. Ramsdale, Smith, Cook, Aké, Daniels, Lerma, Billing, Fraser, Brooks, King, Wilson. I have selected for impact, consistency, and contribution rather than fleeting form.

George Mills
BBC Sport senior journalist

In a recent addition of the Football Extra newsletter, Roger asked BBC Sport: Players are frequently injured on international duty - such as Chris Wood for New Zealand last season, which may have ultimately cost Nottingham Forest a Champions League place. Are clubs compensated by the country or does insurance cover compensation?'

Since 2012, Fifa's Club Protection Programme has covered the salary of players injured on international duty - although there are some conditions.

Firstly, the player must be out of action for a period of at least 28 consecutive days and the injury must have been sustained during an "accident", which is defined in very boring and legally-specific detail in Fifa's guidelines, though it covers most of the examples you could think of.

The scheme pays the salary of an injured player up to the maximum amount of €7.5m (£6.6m) until they are declared fit to return for their clubs.

Transfermarkt lists Chris Wood as missing 18 days - three games - with the hip injury you mention from last March, suffered on international duty with New Zealand. As he returned inside 28 days, Forest would not have been eligible to claim compensation.

There are a couple of clubs who will currently be beneficiaries of this scheme though, including Newcastle United, whose £55m summer signing Yoane Wissa is yet to make an appearance since suffering a knee injury while playing for DR Congo.

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Former Bournemouth chairman Jeff Mostyn believes owner Bill Foley has "changed the landscape" at Vitality Stadium since his arrival in 2022.

After stepping down to take up a new role as club ambassador in December 2022, Jeff Mostyn handed the job over to owner Bill Foley and head coach Andoni Iraola, who he believes have done an "incredible" job.

Many would also argue that Mostyn himself was a pivotal figure in the Cherries' ascent to top-flight football, having led the club's takeover in 2007.

"Bill Foley came in overnight and dramatically changed the landscape," Mostyn explained on the Cherries: Unpicked podcast. "It is incredible and I'm so proud of what he has done alongside his big consortium.

"But then the most important person in the football club - Andoni Iraola - arrived in town on a white horse. What he has done is incredible - he is the new messiah, the new Eddie Howe.

"I often think about how lucky this football club has been to have been on this journey - and it has been down to the stability we created over those years from League Two to the Premier League.

"Iraola's style of play is just a joy as well. I've been to 95% of all the games since he took over and I'm the first on my feet. It is a joy to behold."

• Not a Cherries fan? Find your club here

Asked whether Bournemouth are in a position to challenge for European football, Mostyn replied: "Using the baby steps analogy, we've got to the Premier League so we have already made the impossible possible.

"European football is taking the impossible to another possible level. It is absolutely achievable for this football club, having got to the cusp of it last season.

"I know the boys have already put a marker down for this season. There is nothing to stop Bournemouth from achieving whatever we set our sights on because Europe is expanding and more clubs are qualifying."

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

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Former Bournemouth chairman Jeff Mostyn has revealed all about administrator Gerald Krasner's famous news conference where he nodded his head at the back of the room to confirm he would inject another £100,000 to "save the club from liquidation".

The English businessman - who is often hailed as 'the man who saved Bournemouth' - put his hand into his pocket to save the Cherries from going out of existence, leading a takeover in 2007.

On a special episode of BBC Radio Solent's Cherries: Unpicked podcast, Mostyn explained what really went on behind the scenes:

"I remember Gerald Krasner and David Holiday first telling me the terms of the administration at a breakfast meeting, no holds barred," he said.

"What I was signing up to was a commitment of £500,000, so £100,000-a-month for five months. With hindsight, they were being very conservative about it because we still hadn't saved the club after that.

"The club then needed a further £500,000 from me, so that took the whole thing over seven figures and counting.

"Gerald told me not long after that they had found the buyers and I remember feeling relieved. I'll never forget the moment my wife and I were in Spain having a drink and Gerald rang to tell me the deal had fallen though. It was like the gift that kept on giving.

"On the flight back to England I decided enough was enough, but I don't think I realised the magnitude of his words at the time. There's a big difference between someone saying 'administration' and 'liquidation' - the latter is scary.

"I didn't even realise what was happening before the press conference which was scheduled for my return. Gerald pulled me aside just before it and told me what was going to happen: I was to stand at the back, he was going to say he needed another cheque, and I was to nod in agreement or disagreement.

"He didn't know what my answer would be - but when I'd left my house that morning, my wife and I had already said there was no way I would agree to it. I had already seriously jeopardised my family's financial security.

"But we went into the room, he asked the question and I heard the words: 'Jeff, can I have an answer?' I literally gave it a couple of minutes thought before nodding.

"That crazy nod was the biggest sliding doors moment of my life, apart from meeting my wife. I had no idea what significance it would have for anybody that had any ounce of love for Bournemouth, but it had a stay of execution."

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

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Bournemouth are yet to give an exact start date for their Vitality Stadium redevelopment project, but former Cherries chairman Jeff Mostyn says the modernisation and expansion will "lighten up the club's vision" once completed.

If everything goes to plan, the club are hoping work will begin at some point between January and March 2026.

"It is massive news," Mostyn told BBC Radio Solent's Cherries: Unpicked podcast. "It will complete the circle in so many ways.

"Maxim Demin decided that he wanted to invest in players because, as we both always said, we had never seen a seat in a new stadium jump up and score a goal that can keep a club in the Premier League, but we had seen footballers do it.

"That was Maxim's DNA - he was all about making sure we had the players to keep us in the top flight. Bill Foley then had the ability, having taken over the club in its existing form, to complete the task.

"The purchase of Vitality Stadium also elevated the status of the club. So, for a club of our size, these redevelopment plans are huge.

"It is going to look beautiful cosmetically and the players are going to continue feeling like they are part of a huge, professional football club that's here to stay.

"When we're looking at bringing in players, a new stadium will lighten the vision."

Mostyn went on to reveal that he did in fact try to buy the stadium back himself.

"I had been up to structure Dean Court and David Pearl has become a friend of mine," he said. "Whether that helped the long-term relationship I don't know, because I wasn't there at the final negotiations before the purchase.

"We had made many visits to David with numerous offers, but one of the problems we had is that he's a very wealthy man. With interest rates at zero, David would ask us what he was going to do with the money.

"It was like manna from heaven, so nobody in their right mind was going to accept our offer at that time."

Image source, Getty Images

We wanted your suggestions for Bournemouth's all-time best Premier League XI.

And you delivered!

Here's a first bunch:

Will: 4-4-2. Ramsdale, Smith, Huijsen, Ake, Daniels, Ritchie, Arter, Christie, Semenyo, Wilson, Solanke. A blend of legends and good footballers.

Jeff: 4-4-2. Ramsdale, Ake, Huijsen, Zabarnyi, Kerkez, Adams, Cook, Christie, Kluivert, Semenyo, Wilson.

Jon: 4-5-1. Boruc, Smith, Ake, Zabarnyi, Kerkez, Semenyo, Christie, Cook, Lerma, Brooks, King. Most positions pick themselves to an extent. King on his best day up top with Wilson omitted due to injury proneness. Left-back the hardest as arguably on his day Kerkez is the most world-class player in that position that we've had.

Keith: 4-3-3. Boruc, Smith, Cook, Huijsen, Daniels, Ritchie, Christie, Cook, Brooks, Wilson, Semenyo. A real challenge, trying to balance the classic team that rose to the Premier League in 2015 and the current favourites. Hope this has been achieved!

Geoff: 4-4-2. Boruc, Huijsen, Ake, Truffert, Semenyo, Kluivert, Adams, Ritchie, Wilson, King. A Cherries team to beat anyone.

The latest episode of Cherries: Unpicked has landed - and it is a special sit-down chat with Jeff Mostyn.

BBC Radio Solent's Jordan Clark is on hand to take a deep dive into the former Bournemouth chairman's impact at the club.

The pair talk about saving the club, Bournemouth's rise from League Two to the Premier League, working with former owner and chairman Eddie Mitchell, and selling his 50% stake in the club to Maxim Demin in 2011.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds