Report: Bournemouth's club-record £25M bid for Levante's Lerma accepted
Bournemouth could be about to make their biggest splash in the transfer market to date.
The Cherries have had a club-record bid of £25 million accepted for Levante's Colombian central midfielder Jefferson Lerma, reports BBC Radio Solent. Lerma will have a medical and discuss personal terms this weekend.
It was suggested before the World Cup that Eddie Howe's side had launched an initial £16-million offer for the 23-year-old, but the south coast club has clearly had to drastically up its valuation after his impressive displays in Russia. Sky Sports claims Lerma handed in a transfer request in an attempt to force a move to England.
Lerma played some role in all four games for Colombia as the nation reached the last-16. However, he was a yellow card magnet in Spain last season, being booked 16 times in 26 La Liga matches, something that could become a magnified issue if he does move to the English game.
If a deal is struck, it would eclipse the £20 million Bournemouth paid to Chelsea to secure Nathan Ake's services last summer. The Cherries have already signed Leganes defender Diego Rico and Sheffield United midfielder David Brooks this summer.