Valencia have made an enquiry to AFC Bournemouth for midfielder Jefferson Lerma as they eye a number of signings this summer.
That’s according to AS, who say that the Spanish club have ‘made a commitment’ to new manager José Bordalás that there will be at least three new signings for him.
They are targeting a centre-back, midfielder and striker and will ‘focus their limited financial efforts’ on the addition of a defensive midfielder.
That position was left ‘orphaned’ by the departures of Francis Coquelin and Geoffrey Kondogbia, and Miguel Ángel Corona is ‘scouring the market’ for a new option.
One of the players he has ‘enquired’ about is Bournemouth’s Lerma, who is ‘at the top of the wish list’.
He was already ‘sounded out’ a year ago and also in the January transfer window, but Bournemouth were not interested in letting him go at either point.
That has now changed, and they are ‘open’ to Colombian’s departure after their failure to secure a return to the Premier League.
Valencia have already been in touch and in the first meetings between the two clubs ‘proposed’ a loan with an option to buy.
Bournemouth, though, are committed to finding someone willing to spend on the midfielder after shelling out €28m to buy him themselves, and they are in ‘no hurry’ to fin a destination for him.
Valencia are keen, but their finances are limited, so this could run and run, with the Cherries holding all the power in reality.
