AFC Bournemouth are chasing FC Basel’s Thierno Barry, according to Monday’s edition AS.
The striker managed 12 goals and five assists from 37 games last season and has starred this season, scoring eight goals from four matches.
Bournemouth, along with Villarreal, AS Monaco and TSG Hoffenheim all want to sign him this summer.
The La Liga side have cashed in €32m from Alexander Sørloth’s sale to Atlético Madrid earlier this month. Their idea is to spend part of that fee on signing two new attackers.
Villarreal have already secured Ayoze Pérez’s services and are working to sign Barry. They will have to battle it out with Bournemouth and two other clubs to secure his services.
It’s claimed the Yellow Submarine, who are already negotiating a deal for the 21-year-old, are willing to offer a fee between €12m and €15m.
Blick relay claims made elsewhere about Bournemouth and other interested parties and then give their own take on this case. The Cherries links are good for the Swiss club as it ‘drives up Barry’s price’.
Meanwhile, Basel manager Fabio Celestini has left the door open for the player to leave the club in this window.
“I can only say that Thierno is focused. And he didn’t want to leave the field when I told him during the break that I was taking him out. Maybe the right offer is still missing. And it’ll be there in an hour. That’s just how it is,” he said.
With Villarreal already negotiating a deal, Bournemouth will have to step up if they want to win the battle for Barry’s signature.
