AZ Alkmaar star Jesper Karlsson has admitted he was ready to leave the club this summer amid interest from Bournemouth.
Back in August we covered reports that Bournemouth were keen on the winger as they looked to bolster their squad for their return to the Premier League.
It was claimed in the Netherlands that the Cherries ‘had their sights set’ on the 24-year-old and made a €15m bid for him, but met resistance from Alkmaar, who didn’t want to sell.
Ultimately a deal didn’t happen and Karlsson remained at the Dutch club, continuing as a first choice at the start of the season.
How long he remains there to be seen, with there no pressure for Alkmaar to sell after they signed Karlsson up to a new deal until 2026 in December.
That means they can continue to reject bids, as they did with Bournemouth in the summer, although the player is seemingly ready to move on, and would have been keen to do so this year.
“There was injury, missed national team (Nations League gathering in June), and then a lot of discussions between me and AZ,” he told Fotboll Skanalen.
“I wanted one thing, and they had another plan. I’m a professional and I have a contract, so I had to listen, while I had to say what I wanted and felt, but it’s not something I can influence now, so it’s just to focus on coming back and playing football.
“I felt that I had good seasons and had a good time since I came here, while I like new challenges and new environments to see how well I can do there too.
“I was very hungry for it after the season, but such is football, and I have signed a contract with AZ, which I can complete.
“If there was a move, AZ was clearly involved, and there were large sums, but it was nothing that I could influence. I don’t know what to say, I’m just trying to focus on what I can do now.”
