Bournemouth

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Former Bournemouth defender Joe Partington believes it might be beneficial for the club that they did not add a striker in the January transfer window as a direct replacement for injured Evanilson and Enes Unal.

Although Eli Junior Kroupi signed from FC Lorient, the French attacker has returned to the Ligue 2 side on loan, meaning Bournemouth will stick with what they have for the rest of the season.

Speaking on the latest episode of BBC Radio Solent's Cherries: Unpicked podcast, Partington said: "If we were having this conversation the day after Evanilson got injured and it was deadline day, I would have been more surprised.

"The fact s that they've gone to all these places in January, have got results and done very well, with Dango Ouattara scoring many goals.

"If the manager sees that and thinks we are actually OK then you have to back him and trust him.

"When you're a club where the perception is you need something, then the football clubs that hold the athletes will make you pay above and beyond what they're worth."

Partington believes it also sends a positive message out to the players: "I don't mind the fact they've gone without one. He trusts the players he's got and that might have a positive impact on the club.

"It might give the players an edge because the manager trusts them."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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The latest episode of BBC Radio Solent's Cherries: Unpicked podcast has landed.

Jordan Clarke and former defender Joe Partington assess Bournemouth's January transfer window and reflect on their defeat by Liverpool.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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Now that transfers are done and dusted, we know who has what for the final push this season.

I have Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea finishing in the top four, so that leaves two positions in the top six up for grabs.

I am so torn as to who will fill them because Newcastle and Aston Villa are going to face a serious challenge from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth.

It would be so nice to see Forest and Bournemouth do it and it would be deserved because they have performed so well this season and have adopted a brilliant style.

Everyone wants to watch teams play out from the back and play 'beautiful football' but really, it is juts about finding a style that suits your players and winning games. That is what I have enjoyed about Forest because they don't mind playing from the back, but they also don't mind being direct.

By playing on the defensive and thriving on counter attacks, they have been an enjoyable watch. But looking at their xG in games, they have to be clinical in order to win games. That is working for them at the moment. Whether that is luck, or something that is being coached on the training pitch and being pulled off in games we don't know. But they will have to keep it up.

I am going to be bold and predict Bournemouth to finish fifth, just slightly above Forest.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford

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Bournemouth have won both Premier League meetings with Everton this season – the last side they beat three times in the same campaign in all competitions was Carlisle United in 2012-13.

The Cherries are looking to reach the FA Cup fifth round in consecutive seasons for the first time in their history.

Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport senior journalist

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As I anticipated on these pages at the beginning of January, Bournemouth have made it through the mid-season transfer window without losing any of their stars - despite the best efforts of some media outlets to predict significant sales.

The Cherries may still lose one or two of their prize assets in the summer - it remains part of the business model for clubs the size of Bournemouth, Brighton or Brentford to have a big sale every year or two to balance the books - but that is a question to be addressed in a few months' time.

Instead, January's recruitment has leaned towards the medium and long term. While Julio Soler fills the gaping hole of left-back cover, the other three new arrivals all fit into the "one for the future" category, notably the deadline day arrival of teenage French forward Eli Junior Kroupi from sister club Lorient, where he will remain on loan for the rest of the season.

Also of interest to fans this week was owner Bill Foley's interview with the US-based "Men In Blazers" podcast, where he dropped some tantalising morsels relating to the Cherries' new stadium plans.

With the new training ground at Canford Magna set to open soon, Bournemouth have been vacillating for a while over whether to redevelop the current Vitality Stadium site, or seek to build a brand new stadium, most likely on land currently hosting the soon-to-be-vacated training pitches and the King's Park athletics stadium.

And despite recent broad hints from within the club that the latter option was preferred, Foley's interview spoke of wanting to "dig down" on the current site to raise the capacity to around 19,000, with the option of increasing it by a further 3,000-4,000 seats.

Foley said the design was "well on the way" but as ever, there remain unanswered questions as to some of the details. Would such a large-scale refurbishment include buying the ground back from landlords Structadene? What would be the timescale of such a project, and would the team be able to continue playing at Vitality Stadium during construction? And if not, where?

Hopefully 2025 should be the year when the club puts some flesh on the bones of its stadium plans.

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Bournemouth prioritised their long-term strategy over short-term need in the January transfer window.

An, at times, 11-strong injury crisis - including the loss of strikers Evanilson and Enes Unal within days of each other in January - could have forced the club into the market.

A striker option was explored but Evanilson is due back soon from a fractured foot - though Unal is expected to be out until at least the start of next season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

Justin Kluivert and Dango Outtarra have also both recently scored hat-tricks as manager Andoni Iraola has impressively adjusted to the injury crisis without impacting the team's form.

The players Bournemouth have signed are part of the long-term strategy for the club, including defender Julio Soler and forward Eli Junior Kroupi, who are anticipated to have substantial roles in the first team in 2025-26.

Soler is away with Argentina Under-20s at the South American Championship and Kroupi has rejoined promotion-chasing Lorient on loan in France's second tier - a club linked to Bournemouth through Bill Foley's ownership.

Signing Kroupi, in particular, was important as Bournemouth sources believe other big clubs from around Europe tried to get him before the January deadline, with Chelsea, West Ham and Lyon all linked with a move.

There is also excitement about young signings Zain Silcott-Duberry, a 19-year-old winger signed out of Chelsea's academy, and 18-year-old defender Matai Akinmboni, brought in from Major League Soccer's DC United.

The progress of young first-team players like Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez, Alex Scott and Illia Zabarnyi is not only a blueprint for Bournemouth's transfer chiefs to keep emulating, but can act as an example to talent across the world that the club is a good place to develop.

Tom Jordan
Fan writer

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The January transfer window never really 'slammed shut' for Bournemouth. Instead, it 'lightly closed' - given there was limited activity in the Cherries camp.

A deadline-day addition was made by the club, with the acquisition of exciting, young striker Eli Junior Kroupi from Lorient, part of owner Bill Foley's footballing portfolio. However he will remain with the French club for the remainder of the season.

Other than that, it was a window used to bring in players for the future, with teenagers Matai Akinmboni, Zain Silcott-Duberry and Julio Soler arriving.

Three senior players - Mark Travers, Max Aarons and Philip Billing - departed on loan. All needed to gain valuable minutes that Andoni Iraola could not offer but, more importantly, their exits helped reduce the wage bill.

From the outside looking in, it probably seems unsurprising that Bournemouth have had a quiet January on the incomings front, but some Cherries fans are a tad concerned with the current squad depth.

Despite a remarkable sequence of results, Bournemouth are dealing with an injury crisis at present, meaning many players are having to play out of position.

The club are without a senior striker but have been fortunate that winger Dango Ouattara has been filling that particular burden in impressive fashion.

Equally, the Cherries have no fit right-back - but again, the deputising midfielder Lewis Cook has plugged that gap well.

I'm sure plenty of the injured crop are expected to return sooner rather than later, and the club will be keeping fingers crossed for no more significant injuries.

With nine senior players out on loan, Bournemouth are certainly backing Iraola and his coaching team to continue getting the best out of this versatile, albeit thin, squad of players.

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

Bournemouth forward Justin Kluivert is being lined up by Newcastle in case they lose Alexander Isak in the summer. (Sun), external

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

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Bournemouth have completed the signing of attacker Eli Junior Kroupi from FC Lorient.

The 18-year-old will return to the Ligue 2 club for the rest of the 2024-25 season on loan.

Kroupi has contributed nine goals and two assists in 17 total appearances for Lorient so far the campaign.

"We're very excited to sign somebody with such potential," said technical director Simon Francis. "Junior fits the club's model of developing young players and giving them a platform to perform at the top level.

"Junior has already operated in numerous attacking positions in his short career so far with an impressive goal involvement record.

"He's shown a high level of natural technical ability and awareness for a player so young, and the speed in which he has adapted to senior football has been very encouraging."

Simon Stone and Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporters

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It is a measure of how Bournemouth is run these days that they have no need or desire to get involved in the deadline day scramble.

However, the Cherries are in talks to complete a deal to secure FC Lorient's Eli Junior Kroupi, 18, before the transfer deadline.

The forward would join Bournemouth but go back on loan to the Ligue 2 side, who are currently top of the table and looking to return to the French top flight after relegation last season.

Both clubs are owned by American billionaire Bill Foley and a deal could be revisited in the summer if not done in time.

West Ham have previously been credited with an interest in Kroupi but are unlikely to make a late move.

Andoni Iraola's men remain seventh in the Premier League, just one point off a Champions League spot despite Liverpool's win at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday,

Although they have a number of injuries at the moment, one suspects Iraola is quite happy to go to the end of the season with his squad as it is.

We asked you what would ensure you are satisfied this deadline day.

Here are some of your comments:

Jackson: It is more important to keep what we've got rather than adding to the squad.

Geoff: That none of the current first-team squad leave during the transfer window.

Chris: I would ideally like a striker because we are picking up goals from around the team but it would be nice to relieve the pressure on them so that they can continue to shine. Failing that, it would be great to see some of the injured players start to return as they'll be like new signings.

Charl: A satisfying transfer window would include the selling of Enes Unal and Dango Ouattara. They are not Premier League players. Bring back Callum Wilson and Danny Ings on loan. And why was Mark Travers allowed to go? He's our future. Forget Europe and build a stadium fit for the quality of football currently being played.

It's the last day of the winter transfer window and Premier League clubs have until 23:00 GMT to complete their business.

We'll bring you all the news, views, twists and turns as the clock ticks down to deadline.

Follow it all here

Let's be realistic.

Instead of setting sights high only for dreams to get dashed, we want to know what the minimum requirement is for Bournemouth on deadline day.

Be as specific as possible and tell us what will ensure you are satisfied come 23:00 GMT on Monday.

Let us know

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Bournemouth and Liverpool.

Here are some of your comments:

Bournemouth fans

Sam: Bournemouth just fell short in the final third during this game. The Kluivert miss summed it all up really. It wasn't the electric game we were all expecting, but the boys can be proud of the performance they put in.

Charles: A great game. The Cherries battled but didn't get the breaks they deserved. The penalty was soft and Salah's finish was quality. The usual intensity was there, but the depth of substitutes was not.

Paul: The Cherries really gave it a proper go but were up against the very best the Premier League could offer in Liverpool. Let's all be honest here, we are not quite there yet but we will be eventually - unless we do the normal Bournemouth thing and sell our top players when the money is right. Well done to all the players, though.

Siva: Bournemouth are bound for Europe, no doubt about that. They play with pace, strength and clear direction. They gave Liverpool a run and if the crossbar and posts were a couple of centimetres longer, they would have drawn this game. Well played, Bournemouth - take Europe by storm.

Liverpool fans

Fraser: I cannot stress how big a win this is. We were up against a good Bournemouth side, who beat Arsenal and Manchester City at home and scored nine goals in their past two games. To go there, win and keep a clean sheet is massive for us. Salah once again showing why he is critical to our team. Alisson demonstrating why he is one of the best - if not the best - goalkeepers in the world. Our defence was rock solid. A good win for the Reds. Onwards.

Carl: The Reds played well, as did Bournemouth. But, to be honest, I thought we were a tad lucky to come away with the win.

Yusuf: That was a Liverpool display that proved why they are the main contenders for the league this year. They showed great maturity, particularly in the patches where Bournemouth were dominant. It was great to see the backline getting a clean sheet against tough opposition. It was a magnificent second goal from Salah!

Ian: I was expecting a much tougher game, but Liverpool controlled the majority of it. Szoboszlai was poor and should have been replaced. Alexander-Arnold had another questionable performance. But, apart from that, I'm sure Arne Slot would be quite happy with how it played out.

Adeniyi: How come nobody is talking about a quadruple?

Watch highlights and analysis from Saturday's six Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Bournemouth 0-2 Liverpool

• Wolves 2-0 Aston Villa

Michael Emons
BBC Sport journalist at Vitality Stadium

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For the first time in 12 Premier League matches, Bournemouth suffered a defeat.

But Andoni Iraola's side can be proud of their efforts as they gave league leaders Liverpool a real scare, with only a brilliant second goal from Mohamed Salah (after he scored a first-half penalty) finally seeing them off.

The Cherries hit the post twice, forced Reds goalkeeper Alisson into a number of fine saves and had a potential goal narrowly ruled out for offside.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot was full of praise for Bournemouth, saying: "Only a few [opponents] have been as tough as this.

"This team [Bournemouth] has done so well in picking up these points against so many good teams and it's not by luck. They are intense, they have quality and it was always going to be very hard."

Bournemouth remain seventh, but are only one point behind fourth-placed Manchester City with the Vitality Stadium faithful dreaming of qualifying for Europe for the first time in the club's 125-year history.

If the team can reproduce this effort and level of performance then it will not be long before they go on another unbeaten run and rekindle those hopes of securing continental competition next season.

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Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has been speaking to Sky Sports following the home defeat: "It is disappointing when you lose a game. Small things didn't go for us. We have given ourselves a chance, but it hasn't been enough.

"In key moments, you can score and make the difference but we have not scored and, in the end, against teams like Liverpool you need to punish them whenever you have the chance. The way the players performed, everyone can see it has been a high-level game.

"We have a week to prepare for the game against Everton in the FA Cup. Everton have been doing well so it is a difficult draw for us."

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Bournemouth suffered their first Premier League defeat since November against Brighton, ending their 11-game unbeaten run in the competition (W7 D4).

The Cherries have only lost two league games by two or more goals this season, both of which have been against Liverpool (3-0 in September and 2-0 this afternoon).

Bournemouth have hit the woodwork 16 times in the Premier League this season - including twice against Liverpool - the outright most of any side.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Bournemouth's performance

What did you make of Liverpool's display?

Come back to this page on Sunday evening to find a selection of your replies