French interest in Bournemouth forward confirmed by third source, club focusing on foreign players

Very short of game time at Bournemouth under Eddie Howe, Max Gradel’s return to Ligue 1 is definitely picking up pace, with now a third French source confirming the fact that Nantes are interested in the Ivory Coast international, after La Gazette des Transferts’ and Yahoo Sport’s recent claims.

With only 90 minutes of Premier League football under his belt so far this season, spread over five appearances, few would lambast the former Saint-Etienne star for wanting to look elsewhere to get time on the pitch, and the return to Ligue 1, a league he knows well, offered by Nantes would certainly be tempting.

L’Equipe on Friday report the small French club have changed their recruiting focus completely since the arrival of their new manager, Sergio Conçeicao, with foreign players to be targeted, rather than focusing on a French core.

This leads to the French newspaper stating the option of bringing Max Gradel on loan from Dean Court remains on the agenda, after the player came close to moving there in the summer.

Nantes are desperately in need of wingers, and the arrival of the Bournemouth forward could do wonders for the worst attack in Ligue 1 (12 goals in 18 games).