Jefferson Lerma
A fan favourite since arriving from Spanish side Levante in 2018 for a club-record £25million, Lerma has entered the final months of his contract at Vitality Stadium. Capped 33 times by Colombia, the 28-year-old has a host of suitors, both in Spain and in the Premier League. London clubs Crystal Palace, West Ham and Fulham are rumoured to be interested, with clubs in Europe unable to match the financial pull of top-flight clubs in England. Reports had suggested that the Colombian international had rejected multiple contract offers from Cherries, only for Lerma himself to insist that this was not the case. Speaking exclusively to the Daily Echo in his native Spanish,
Jefferson Lerma shared: “Everything is possible. I have never rejected an offer from the club. We have always been in dialogue and waited to make the best decision for both of us. I am very grateful to count on the people here, but now it is time to reach an agreement that works out best for both from any point of view. For me, if there was a breakdown in talks with the club it would be in the news. We are waiting and taking the best decision for both of us.”
Now mathematically safe from relegation, Cherries had an uncharacteristically bad day at the office last time out, failing to register a shot on target as they were defeated 2-0 at Crystal Palace.
Jefferson Lerma said: “It was quite a rare game from us. I think that we couldn’t really settle. But we have to raise our heads and think of what’s to come. Sadly, it was an out-of-character game (for us) and a good game for them. But every week we have an opportunity to lift ourselves up.”
The major talking point stemming from the encounter from a Cherries perspective was a first-half incident involving Lerma. Crystal Palace defender Joachim Andersen struck Lerma in the face with a clenched fist at a corner, there being enough force to break the former Levante man’s nose. However, despite a VAR check, Andersen received no punishment. Asked if he had broken his nose,
Jefferson Lerma replied: “Yes – you can see it a little. Supposedly (the referees) didn’t see anything wrong. We have to forget it and we recover.”
With two games left in their season, Cherries have already achieved their pre-season objective of survival. Asked for his thoughts on the season as a whole,
Jefferson Lerma responded: “Yes, that also has to be seen as a positive. I think that everything cannot be rosy. We have to not crash after a loss, but recover – the desire is to return to victory. Like I said before, it’s football and every week you have an opportunity to prove yourself.”
