Bournemouth

Tom Jordan
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

After a concerning summer transfer window for the Cherries, with many of the club's top stars moving on, this January window feels like a big one for AFC Bournemouth.

Losing four of the regular backline from the last campaign has come home to roost of late. Plus, to add to current woes, influential central midfielder Tyler Adams has joined Ben Gannon-Doak and Veljko Milosavljevic on the long-term injury list, therefore new additions are essential if the club wants to avoid a relegation dogfight.

Bournemouth will also almost certainly be losing their star man Antoine Semenyo, with a host of clubs ready to activate his £65m release clause - which needs to be triggered by 10 January. So it goes without saying that the club needs to help their head coach by adding squad depth, experience and quality to the group. Replacing Semenyo feels a tall order, but the club most definitely have to try!

Elsewhere, the Cherries need some more competition in-between the sticks, with only one senior goalkeeper - Djordje Petrovic - in the squad. Whilst he has plied his trade in Scotland, the current back-up keeper Will Dennis is yet to make a Football League appearance, never mind a Premier League one.

Plus, having lost two elite stars in Dean Huijsen and Illia Zabarnyi in the summer, a centre-back is also paramount if the club wants to stop shipping goals. As previously mentioned, the only natural enforcer in the Cherries midfield - Adams - is out for a while, so adding in that area could also prove to be an important move.

It'll be an enormous January window for Bournemouth which might determine whether they want to look up the table again, or start to glance worryingly over their shoulder.

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

Tottenham have ended their pursuit of Bournemouth and Ghana forward Antoine Semenyo. However, the 25-year-old is still of interest to Manchester City and Manchester United, while Liverpool are weighing up their options following Alexander Isak's injury. (Sky Sports), external

Semenyo, who has a release clause of £60.5m, may have made a decision on his future on Monday. (Mail), external

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

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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

Here are some of your comments:

Bournemouth fans

John: Cherries of old. Chances not taken and a team prepared to defend. Reliance on key players who seem to be in safe mode. It needs new life or change. January awaits.

Ant: Absolute madness that we don't win this game. You know what you'll get with Burnley, but our lack of game management is quite frightening. Worrying times ahead with Antoine Semenyo heading out the door in January.

Greg: Burnley were dreadful, but you can't blame the poor result just because they parked the bus. For the majority of the game our play was just too slow and predictable. Set-plays seem to be an issue for us whilst defending and we lack that clinical edge to score goals against teams that set up to defend. Not a great game to watch.

Mick: We have lost our energy and urgency going forward. Thought Alex Scott should have started and let's give Eli Junior Kroupi a chance up front. What we are doing at the moment doesn't work. Once Semenyo goes, I'm not sure where the goals will come from. Our best player by a mile.

Burnley fans

Robert: Great to get a point and put a stop to the rot. Joe Worrall was immense for us at both ends. Many of the players seemed lacking in confidence and definitely time for Jaidon Anthony to spend some time on the bench. Marcus Edwards on the other hand is one of the few players to truly attack the opposition and has to get a starting run in the team.

Alan: Abject. Watching Burnley is like watching a first division team playing Premier opposition in the cup. They occasionally have a puncher's chance, but most times lose. Remove the management team, release players and prepare for the Championship, because there is no fight or spirit in the club.

Carl: I think Marcus Edwards brings something different to Burnley's attack, and if Armando Broja can score more goals this could be a new start for us.

Steven: Not very exciting but a good point. Anthony needs taking out of the team for a while! Do we dare to start believing this might be a turning point?

Laura Kenyon
Final Score reporter

Image source, Getty Images

The stats are pretty damning.

Bournemouth and Burnley had just one shot on target each, in a game which will not live long in the memories of many.

Behind the stat though, is a multitude of Bournemouth missed chances and a worrying trend emerging: Andoni Iraola's side love a draw. Seven draws, in fact - the highest in the division so far this season.

And Bournemouth are tumbling down the table at pace as a result and fans are left scratching their heads recalling the second place position they occupied just two months ago.

David Brooks, Evanilson and Marcus Tarvernier all showed flashes of joining Antoine Semenyo on the score sheet but Iraola needs them to step up to end an eight game winless run.

Pundits Joe Hart and Shay Given join host Kelly Cates to bring you the action and talking points from Saturday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Manchester City 3-0 West Ham

• Brighton 0-0 Sunderland

• Tottenham 1-2 Liverpool

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

While both sides came into this contest without a league victory since 26 October, there were few similarities once play got under way.

Bournemouth dominated possession against a Burnley side that appeared devoid of ambition and who largely struggled to retain the ball long enough to pose any attacking threat of their own.

In contrast to Bournemouth's thrilling 4-4 draw at Old Trafford, there were also long periods of this encounter where there was little by way of entertainment.

Andoni Iraola's main frustration will be that his side failed to add to their goal tally against opponents who had shipped 23 goals in eight previous matches on their travels.

Evanilson was unable to influence proceeedings greatly before he was withdrawn just after the hour mark.

And while Antoine Semenyo did provide a moment of brilliance and genuine threat there appeared to be an over reliance on the former Bristol City player to spark the home side.

Listen to Lewis Cook's interview with BBC Radio Solent on Sounds

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "We were feeling like we were having the best chances, but we didn't kill it. We are conceding a lot of set plays, and it is a big punishment for us. We deserved to win.

"Burnley have been competitive in every game. We should be 2-0 up, so if something like this happens, it is just 2-1. We didn't kill the game in the moments we were playing better.

"This is the Premier League, and you cannot have these mistakes defensively and offensively.

"The last part of the first half, we started conceding some fouls, the game became a bit more messy. We became more aggressive of the ball, we dominated, but it is just a point.

"Everything is costing us a lot. One point is better than losing; you have to value every point, but we have to find a way to go to three points."

On Antoine Semenyo and rumours he could leave in January: "He is a massive player for us. It is not a big secret."

Did you know?

• Bournemouth remain winless in eight Premier League games (D4 L4), drawing each of their last three and conceding four of their last six goals in the competition after the 75th minute.

• Antoine Semenyo has scored eight Premier League goals this season - only Dominic Solanke (11 in 2023-24) has ever scored more before Christmas in a season in the competition for Bournemouth.

Listen to Iraola on BBC Sounds

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Bournemouth's performance

What did you make of Burnley's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Bournemouth make two changes from the side that started their 4-4 Premier League draw at Manchester United on Monday.

Lewis Cook and David Brooks both come back into the line up with Adam Smith dropping to the bench and Tyler Adams sidelined with a knee injury he picked up at Old Trafford.

Bournemouth XI: Petrovic, Diakite, Senesi, Truffert, Tavernier, Jimenez, Cook, Brooks, Kluivert, Semenyo, Evanilson.

Subs: Dennis, Soler, Scott, Christie, Smith, Adli, Kroupi, Hill, Unal.

Burnley make six alterations to the side that began their 3-2 top-flight loss to Fulham at Turf Moor last weekend.

Kyle Walker, Joe Worrall, Jaidon Anthony, Zian Flemming, Lucas Pires and Josh Laurent all start in place of Quilindschy Hartman, Maxime Esteve, Axel Tuanzebe, Florentino, Armando Broja and Lyle Foster.

Burnley XI: Dubravka, Walker, Worrall, Ugochukwu, Ekdal, Bruun Larsen, Anthony, Flemming, Pires, Cullen, Laurent.

Subs: Weiss, Edwards, Humphreys, Florentino, Tchaouna, Sonne, Broja, Tresor, Barnes.

There are eight games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Newcastle v Chelsea (12:30)

• Bournemouth v Burnley

• Brighton v Sunderland - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Manchester City v West Ham - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Wolves v Brentford

• Tottenham v Liverpool (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Everton v Arsenal (20:00)

• Leeds v Crystal Palace (20:00)

Kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Man City v West Ham" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Tottenham v Liverpool", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

Both of these sides are without a win in seven league games but Burnley's problems are deeper because they have lost every time during that run.

So, their boss Scott Parker really needs a positive result against his former club.

We have had callers on 606 suggesting his time is up at Turf Moor, but I think that is harsh because they have still been competitive despite all those defeats.

I always thought they would struggle this season after getting promoted and I am sure their fans did too but, as I have said many times already, because Sunderland are doing so well, it means Clarets fans are asking: 'Why can't that be us?'

Bournemouth were second on 26 October, but are now 13th after taking only three points in total from those seven games.

The Cherries' 4-4 draw at Old Trafford on Monday was an extraordinary game and proved again what I already thought - that they have goals in them.

I can see Burnley giving them a good game too, but this is where Andoni Iraola's side get back to winning ways.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Henry Cowling
BBC Sport journalist

Bournemouth will be looking to end a winless run of seven Premier League matches when they welcome a struggling Burnley side to the south coast on Saturday (15:00 GMT). BBC Sport looks at some of the key themes before the match.

The Cherries come into this one after an instant Premier League classic in a 4-4 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Support for Semenyo

Bournemouth have benefited from the fact Ghana didn't qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations, as it means star man Antoine Semenyo will be with them for the busy festive period. Semenyo's goal against Manchester United took his tally to seven in the league so far this season.

But it was the other goalscorers against United that will give the Cherries encouragement of breaking their poor run of form.

Striker Evanilson's tidy finish ended a goalless run dating back to the end of August, while Marcus Tavernier and Junior Kroupi chipped in with their fourth and fifth league goals respectively.

Semenyo, though, is something of a talisman. Bournemouth have only lost two games in which he's scored since his debut in 2023 – little wonder they're loathe to lose him in January, with several clubs reportedly interested in triggering his £65m release clause.

Parker's Premier League struggles

The struggles Burnley are experiencing will be all too familiar for head coach Scott Parker.

His promotion with the Clarets last season is the third time he has steered a club from the Championship to the top tier, after doing so with Fulham in 2020 and Bournemouth in 2022 - but he has found life in the Premier League difficult.

Parker couldn't save Fulham from relegation when he took over in February 2019, but managed to take them back to the top flight via the play-offs in 2020. After just one season, The Cottagers were back in the Championship, finishing 18th and 11 points from safety.

Parker then took over at Bournemouth, where he again achieved promotion from the Championship – but was sacked just four games into the Premier League season after a 9-0 loss to Liverpool.

Parker has the highest points per game of any manager to have taken charge of at least 50 Championship matches since 2004-05, but the second lowest of any manager with 50-plus games in the Premier League since 1992-93 – behind only Daniel Farke.

Millie Sian
BBC Sport journalist

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has been speaking to BBC Radio Solent before Saturday's Premier League game against Burnley at Vitality Stadium (kick-off 15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Tyler Adams will be sidelined for "between two and three months" after tearing his medial collateral ligament against Manchester United last time out.

• He added that he will "find a way to make things work" without the versatile midfielder, with Lewis Cook set to return after serving his three-match suspension and Alex Scott also available.

• Ryan Christie, who has been out since the end of November with a knee sprain, will be assessed before the fixture after training with the first-team squad on Thursday.

• The current injury situation could "definitely" change the club's January transfer window plans. Iraola explained: "Tyler Adams' injury makes us think about needing someone to fill his position, but it depends how Ryan Christie performs after his recovery. It is something to pay attention to because we could be quite thin."

• He emphasised that the noise around Marcos Senesi's future at the club isn't bothering him: "The most important thing is that he's playing very well. Both parties still have time regarding his contract situation - there are still seven months left. There is no doubt I want him to continue here."

• On opponents Burnley, Iraola said: "It is a completely different challenge to Manchester United. In recent games, like the 3-2 defeat by Fulham, they have shown they have offensive power and we have to be careful of that."

• Scott Parker's side play with "target number nines" so getting to second balls and being aware of long balls is going to be "very important".

• He recognised that the Cherries have struggled "when teams go direct to very powerful number nines", and pointed to West Ham's Callum Wilson and Crystal Palace's Jean-Philippe Mateta as examples.

Listen to Andoni Iraola speaking to the press on BBC Radio Solent

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Image source, Getty Images

Former Bournemouth striker Sam Vokes cannot understand why Antoine Semenyo would want to leave the club.

Semenyo has made 10 goal contributions in the Premier League this season and has been heavily linked with a number of clubs before the opening of the January transfer window.

Vokes has his own experience of leaving Bournemouth, coming through the Cherries' academy but revealing that his departure at the age of 18 was out of his hands.

"I've never really spoken about this," Vokes told BBC Radio Solent. "The club were in administration. I was only 18 - more than happy playing in the first team at Bournemouth.

"One day I got called in by the administrators with my parents, and they almost pushed the paper in front of me.

"They said: 'Look, the club's in trouble, we've negotiated with these five clubs - where would you like to go?'"

Facing relegation from League Two and in financial difficulty, the Bournemouth Vokes left is very different from the one which Semenyo now faces a choice about.

"I don't know why you'd want to leave that setup," Vokes said. "I've seen the new training ground.

"I understand when so-called 'bigger' clubs come knocking, it's hard sometimes.

"But with the way he's performing and the way that Bournemouth have been doing - it looks like he's enjoying his football.

"I don't know why he'd want to do that anywhere else at the moment."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

Manchester United will go all-out to sign Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo in January and hope the uncertainty over Pep Guardiola's future at Manchester City could boost their chances of landing the 25-year-old. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

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

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

After the news Marcos Senesi has rejected several contract offers to stay at Bournemouth, BBC Sport football reporter Nizaar Kinsella discussed his future on the Cherries: Unpicked podcast.

The Argentina centre-back's deal expires at the end of the season, with Kinsella describing his situation as "odd" and likening it to that of Dean Huijsen, who left Vitality Stadium for Real Madrid last summer.

"It's been a smart decision [to keep Senesi]," Kinsella told BBC Radio Solent. "Bournemouth could not really sell any more centre-backs.

"Yes, you want a transfer fee but do you want to flirt with relegation?

"I'm sure they'll have a little look in January but if the right player isn't available then they'll happily wait until the summer.

"Then you've got to throw in the uncertainty around the manager's contract. Having the certainty [until the summer] of a 28-year-old centre-back that is good enough to play in the Premier League is invaluable."

Senesi will be eligible to sign a pre-contract deal with a European club from January and Kinsella added the only way he sees the defender staying is if nobody actually comes in for him.

"If he's getting offers from Champions League clubs or even very strong Europa League cups then I think Bournemouth will struggle to keep him," he said.

Listen to the full episode here

Explore all Bournemouth content on BBC Sounds

Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport Senior Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

A lot has already been written, and will continue to be written, about Bournemouth's 4-4 draw at Manchester United on Monday, a pre-Christmas cracker that will join the burgeoning list of memorable Premier League encounters under boss Andoni Iraola.

But while others, notably the goalscorers, will grab the headlines, it was another increasingly assured display at Old Trafford for the unheralded Alex Jimenez.

Eyebrows were raised when the Spaniard swapped the red-and-black stripes of AC Milan for those of Bournemouth on the final day of the summer transfer window, initially joining on a season-long loan.

Some fans questioned why another right-back was needed, with captain Adam Smith, Julian Araujo and Max Aarons already on the books, while midfielder Lewis Cook played there for a sizeable chunk of last season and centre-back James Hill is capable of covering the role too.

And Jimenez did not make an auspicious start to his Cherries career, coming on as an 87th-minute substitute against Brighton. Having replaced Hill as Iraola's side tried to close out a 2-1 win, Jimenez was booked for time-wasting in stoppage time.

He started the next two matches against Newcastle and Leeds, but was cautioned in both of them, and substituted at half-time against the Magpies.

However, Jimenez, who was shown six yellow cards for Milan in Serie A last season, seems to have adjusted that side of his game, only having been booked once in his last nine appearances.

Being on four bookings has meant he has been walking a disciplinary tightrope since early November. However, if Jimenez can avoid being cautioned for the next three games to round out the calendar year as teams reach the 19-game mark, the threshold for an automatic suspension moves to 10 yellows.

While injuries and suspensions have disrupted Iraola's selection options in recent weeks, Jimenez has shown versatility, lining up on the right of midfield in the goalless draw with Chelsea, before switching flanks with Antoine Semenyo several times at Old Trafford.

And while not credited with an official Fantasy League assist, it was Jimenez's bursting midfield run and crucial pass which set up Eli Junior Kroupi's equaliser to make it 4-4.

It was reported at the time of Jimenez's loan deal that making 18 Premier League starts would trigger an obligation to make the move permanent. With eight under his belt already, the Spain Under-21 international looks well set to earn a longer stay on the south coast.

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport journalist

Antoine Semenyo's first-half goal in Monday's 4-4 draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford was a timely reminder of the 25-year-old's quality – but perhaps one that will not be entirely welcomed by Bournemouth fan with the January transfer window due to open in two weeks' time.

Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham and United are all reportedly chasing the Ghana winger's signature, with interest driven by a £65m release clause in Semenyo's contract, which becomes active on 1 January.

It means that one of the Premier League's in-demand attackers is about to be available for a relatively reasonable price and Semenyo's form over the past eight months – the most impressive period of his career so far – shows why the wideman is so coveted.

Since the start of April, Semenyo has been directly involved in 15 Premier League goals, second only to City striker Erling Haaland.

The Cherries forward has scored 11 league goals during this period, again second only to Haaland, while he has overperformed his expected goals tally more than any player bar West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen.

But what really sets Semenyo apart from other top-flight attackers is the threat he provides when running with the ball. He has scored four goals and assisted two directly following a carry, the joint most of any Premier League player since the beginning of April.

Additonally, Semenyo has had 19 shots and created 14 chances during this period following a run with the ball – underlining the consistent threat he can offer.

Should Semenyo choose to leave Vitality Stadium next month he will be a huge loss to Bournemouth – and his arrival at a title-chasing team could prove pivotal come the end of the season.

Nizaar Kinsella
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi has rejected several contract offers and is expected to leave in the summer.

The 28-year-old's deal runs until June 2026, but he will be free to sign a pre-contract agreement with overseas clubs from January.

The Argentina international, capped twice, has shown no interest in renewing his contract and has turned down at least three lucrative offers. He is keen to take the next step in his career, with several major clubs monitoring his situation.

Bournemouth are pleased Senesi will remain until the end of the season to provide stability after losing three defenders for a combined £147m last summer: Dean Huijsen to Real Madrid for £50m, Milos Kerkez to Liverpool for about £40m and Ilya Zabarnyi to Paris Saint-Germain for £57m.

Senesi is the last remaining member of manager Andoni Iraola's preferred back four from last season and provides continuity in a new-look defence. He joined the club from Feyenoord in 2022 and has gone on to make 105 appearances in all competitions.

The more pressing concern for Bournemouth is the potential departure of Antoine Semenyo in January. His release clause is valued at about £65m, including add-ons, with Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham all interested. Manchester United have also been linked in the past.

If Semenyo leaves, the Cherries will look to sign an attacker, but they hope interested clubs will allow him to stay until the end of the season.

Sam Davis
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Bournemouth were back with a bang on Monday in a dramatic showing against Manchester United at Old Trafford which was "absolute cinema". Many a neutral would have enjoyed such an incredible ding dong between two teams who forgot the art of defending for an evening, with the sole aim of out-scoring each other.

Fans have been treated to this brand of chaos ever since Andoni Iraola set foot through the door at Dean Court. It was nothing overly new for those watching of a Cherry persuasion but once again it underlines how lucky we are to have a gaffer that produces footballing entertainment like this.

Over the last few weeks, there was concern that this identity had been forgotten somewhat. A couple of losses against Manchester City and Aston Villa seemed to affect the team's morale. Conceding two at home to West Ham, shipping three against Sunderland and then losing to Everton were uncharacteristic responses that Iraola would not have wanted.

The subsequent home point against Chelsea though, amid the backdrop of multiple injury woes and player uncertainty, might perhaps have helped to galvanise the side and keep things on lockdown somewhat. So with that little bit of confidence seeping through the veins of the players again, it was always going to be interesting how we'd perform at United, a team over whom we've had some great recent results.

We didn't quite expect an immediate return to kamikaze chaos though! It was insane! Perhaps this suggests Bournemouth are very much all or nothing under Iraola.

Conceding four perhaps shows that there needs to be a bit more balance stylistically, but maybe the services of Tyler Adams (who was taken off injured), Ryan Christie (still out) and Lewis Cook (suspended) might have provided that.

Either way, we are so back.

Find more from Sam Davis at Back of the Net, external

Image source, Getty Images

Bournemouth defender Adam Smith says the players have "mixed emotions" about the 4-4 draw at Manchester United because it is a game they feel they should have won in the final minutes.

Reflecting on the eight-goal thriller to Radio Solent, Smith said: "We didn't start the game very well and they [United] were on top.

"It is a tough place to come and we had to ride it out for 20 minutes. The Gaffer made a few changes and we were comfortable after that and got back into the game.

"Conceding a rubbish goal before half-time annoyed us so we responded straight away in the second-half which is great."

Smith went on to say that the referee got it wrong when he was penalised for handball in the second-half, which resulted in Bruno Fernandes scoring from the free-kick.

"The ball clearly hit my shoulder," Smith added. "I give up.

"He is one yard in front of me. I said to the referee 'what do you want me to do with my arms?' He said he didn't want to talk to me.

"I think he knew as soon as he gave it, he had made a mistake.

"It was a great free-kick but I guess it is what happens when you are at a club like Bournemouth.

"After that we could have easily just folded so it shows what character we have in the team.

"A lot of teams would have felt sorry for themselves but we didn't and I felt like we should have won the game in the end."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds