Andrew Surman
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Andrew Surman on replacing Jefferson Lerma at Bournemouth #AFCB

June 8, 2023
Surman, 36, left Cherries in the summer of 2020 following relegation from the Premier League, having made 226 appearances for the club across two spells, scoring 11 goals. He retired from professional football in 2021 and in January of this year returned to Cherries, taking up a role as under-18s assistant manager. Central midfielder Surman made 13 appearances alongside Lerma during the pair’s crossover at Cherries, under Eddie Howe. The Colombian, who is the club’s record £25million signing, is set to leave on a free transfer this summer as his five-year contract expires. 'Wherever I go, I will carry them in my heart' - Lerma's farewell to Cherries Asked if Cherries need to find a direct replacement for the 28-year-old, or if the likes of Joe Rothwell and Lewis Cook can plug the gap, Surman told BBC Radio Solent: “Obviously he got me out the team, so I can’t say too much! No, I’m only joking. “I think they need to replace him, 100 per cent. “I think Rothwell is a really, really good player and Lewis Cook is proven over the years. “But I don’t think you can underestimate the physicality of the Premier League. Losing a player like Jefferson Lerma, you have to replace the physicality side of that. “You look at someone like (Romeo) Lavia at Southampton, physicality, gets you up the pitch, puts tackles in, he’s all-action. “I think that’s what they’re going to need, especially strength in depth wise, because you’re relying on those two midfielders. “If one of those gets injured, then you’re looking at it going ‘who is going to step up and play in there?’ “I think they need to replace him with a physical asset. It’s a shame that he’s leaving, because I think he’s a really good player, Jeff.” Lerma leaves having made 184 appearances for Cherries, with Crystal Palace his reported next destination.
Jefferson Lerma
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Jefferson Lerma talks about his future with Cherries #AFCB

May 17, 2023
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. Sources close to the player had told the Daily Echo that he was undecided over a move away due to his strong affection for the club and the Cherries faithful. 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, 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. “It was quite a rare game from us,” Lerma explained. “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, 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, 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.”
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’ Neil reveals that AFC Bournemouth’s Jefferson Lerma is undecided on future at the club #AFCB

May 12, 2023
Sources close to the player have told the Daily Echo that he has doubts on leaving Cherries due to a strong affection he holds for both the club and fanbase. A club record signing, Lerma arrived at Vitality Stadium in the summer of 2018 for a fee believed to be in the region of £25 million from then La Liga outfit Levante. With his contract expiring this summer, the 28-year-old has been free to discuss a pre-contract with clubs outside of England since January. After reportedly making no headway in earlier talks over an extension, negotiations between Cherries and Lerma's representatives were seemingly paused to focus on the clubs’ bid for survival. As it appears Cherries have all but confirmed their Premier League status for a second successive season, there is now an opportunity for talks to restart. Speaking on Lerma’s future at the start of May, head coach Gary O’Neil commented: “No decision made at the moment, as far as I'm aware, so hopefully he'll be here. “Jeff's a great guy, so incredible around the place, incredible around the group, especially if you're in a relegation battle when you need to get in the trenches. “And me, Jeff, the club, have been fully focused on that up until this moment. “I think you've seen in Jeff's performances that there was just no doubt that he was fully committed to the cause. “Now that the relegation stuff is all but beyond us, then hopefully we can start to put something in place where he stays, but no confirmation either way.” Whilst the Daily Echo understands that there are numerous European clubs that have made proposals to the midfielder, no agreement has been reached with any side. In March, Lerma told Spanish outlet AS.com that he was open to a return to Spain, but while Spanish clubs have enquired into the availability of the Colombian international, they are unable to match the potential wages on offer in the Premier League. Although teams based in England must wait until the expiry of a player’s contract before making an official offer, there are also numerous Premier League clubs that have registered an interest in Lerma. Reportedly London clubs West Ham, Crystal Palace, and Fulham are keen on Lerma. Since arriving from Spain, the Colombian has made 181 appearances for Cherries, the majority of which have come in the top-flight. One of the first names on the team sheet under five different bosses, many expected Lerma to depart Dean Court when Cherries were relegated from the Premier League in 2020. However, the former Atletico Huila man remained at Cherries, helping them to a return to the first tier at the second attempt last season. At the age of 28, Lerma is regarded to be in his prime, with the likelihood that his next contract will be his last chance of a financially lucrative deal.
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Gary O’Neil on Jefferson Lerma #AFCB

May 6, 2023
The Colombian’s current deal expires this summer, with Lerma open to a return to Spain. He first joined Cherries in 2018 from then La Liga outfit Levante for a club record £25 million, signing a five-year contract at the time. Despite being regarded as one of Cherries’ best players, he remained loyal to the club following their relegation from the Premier League in 2020, helping the side to a top-flight return after two years in the Championship. Now 28, Cherries will not be entitled to any compensation if he decides to depart for pastures new. Whilst a final decision has yet to been made by Lerma, O’Neil pointed out that at no point could it be doubted the midfielder had not given his all to Cherries this campaign. Lerma has missed just one Premier League game this season, playing a total of 2,895 minutes out of a possible 3,060. In his five seasons at Dean Court, the Colombian international has made 180 appearances for Cherries, and if he plays in the remaining four league fixtures, he will reach a century of Premier League games. Asked about Lerma’s future, O’Neil replied: “No decision made at the moment, as far as I'm aware, so hopefully he'll be here. “Jeff's a great guy, so incredible around the place, incredible around the group, especially if you're in a relegation battle when you need to get in the trenches. “And me, Jeff, the club, have been fully focused on that up until this moment. “I think you've seen in Jeff's performances that there was just no doubt that he was fully committed to the cause. “So, yeah, now that the relegation stuff is all but beyond us, then hopefully we can start to put something in place where he stays, but no confirmation either way.” With contract talks paused during Cherries’ survival bid, there is optimism the 28-year-old could sign a new deal to remain at Vitality Stadium.” “I'm hopeful,” responded Cherries’ head coach when he was asked if he was confident a deal could be agreed. “I think there's a lot of things that go on in individual decisions. “If Jeff was to leave, he'd have huge respect from absolutely everybody. “Fans absolutely love him and rightly so. “He's been an incredible, and still is an incredible player for the football team, for a very long time. “I'm hopeful that we will have him next season.”