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- Gary O’Neil’s early assessment of Antoine Semenyo after move from Bristol City in January window #AFCB

March 30, 2023
Semenyo has been eased into life at Cherries, following his £9million move from Bristol City in January. The Ghana international, who netted for his country last week, is yet to score for his new club, having made six appearances. Semenyo, 23, joined Bristol City’s academy in 2017 and, after three loan spells away, became a regular for the Robins. He departed the second-tier club having scored 21 goals and provided 22 assists in 125 appearances. Of Semenyo’s six outings for Cherries so far, two have come as a starter, while he has been utilised both as a central striker and wide player. Discussing his early impressions of Semenyo, O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “I don’t think you can underestimate how big the step is, even tactically. “So his two starts have been against Brighton, who are an extremely tactical team with a very good head coach. There will be a lot of tactical info in there that he needs to take on at this level. “And again Arsenal, a lot was asked of him. It’s a big step up from where he’s come from. “But he’s willing, works his socks off, takes on every bit of info you give him and has real good attributes that can hurt teams.” Asked in which position he sees versatile Semenyo playing most of his football at Cherries, O’Neil added: “I think probably his best position is a nine. “But he can play anywhere across the top line. He’s both footed, equally off both sides. “He has attributes that are a real threat when he’s on the top line. “So sometimes playing wide and getting in behind attacking full-backs could be a use for him, which was sort of the hope for him at Arsenal, that they would attack and there would be spaces left and we could try and catch them. “But as a nine as well, he’s very good across the top line. He is flexible.”
Romeo Lavia
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton FC starlet Romeo Lavia has say on Man City transfer talk #SAINTSFC

March 23, 2023
Lavia swapped the Etihad Stadium for Southampton in July for a fee of roughly £12m having not yet made his Premier League debut for the reigning champions. But a breakthrough campaign with Saints that has led to his first call-up to the Belgium senior side has led to a near-constant flurry of transfer rumours. READ MORE: Lavia named as winner of NXGN Nine award for world's best young players A report this week from Football Insider has suggested that all of Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, and Manchester City are hoping to sign Lavia this summer. City, clearly well aware of Lavia's immense talent, inserted a buyback clause in the deal that saw him become a Saints player but that clause is only valid from next summer. And speaking to Belgian media this week, Lavia opened up on the potential interest from his former club. “It's still too early to talk about it. I remain focused on the rest of the season with Southampton even if collectively it is difficult (with Saints in the relegation zone) . But I keep hope and I remain confident.” Romeo Lavia pictured after Saints' 3-3 draw with Spurs. (Image: Stuart Martin) There were reports that Lavia had a chance of making Belgium's World Cup squad in November before a serious hamstring injury suffered in Siants' 2-1 win against Chelsea halted his skyrocketing progress. Asked about how he handled missing the tournament, Lavia reflected: “Very calmly. I am still a young player. I knew my moment was coming. "The only person putting pressure on me is myself. But I'm very happy to be here. It is an immense pride to join this group.  "Now that I'm part of it, I try to do everything to get to know my teammates." Still just 19-year-old, Lavia has looked like a seasoned professinal virtually from the moment he first stepped onto the pitch for Saints, the byproduct of an impressive football upbringing that took him from Anderlecht to Man City with significant extra work on the side. READ MORE: Assessment of all THIRTEEN Saints first-team stars heading off for international duty “Since the age of 13, I have had a personal physical trainer named Ronald Kabeya," Lavia explained. "It is also through him that I met Johan Bakayoko, whom I am very happy to find with the Red Devils.  "We worked a lot together during the slower moments of the season. I became aware very young of my qualities and of the fact that talent is not enough to perform.  "I was also well supported during my adventure at Manchester City and I try to store all the advice I have been given. ”I am a very ambitious person so everything is possible and imaginable.”
Nathan Jones
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton manager Nathan Jones reveals role of deadline day signing Paul Onuachu #SAINTSFC

February 4, 2023
NATHAN Jones insisted deadline day signing Paul Onuachu could offer Saints a real target man like “(Armando) Broja and (Graziano) Pelle”. The six-foot-seven-inch Nigerian striker was one of two additions made by Saints as the minutes ticked down on the final day of winter trading. Winger Kamaldeen Sulemana, 20, will also add to the attacking reinforcements – but it could be Onuachu who targets an immediate impact at the club. The 28-year-old has scored 64 goals over the last two-and-a-half seasons at Belgian outfit Genk, before completing a Premier League move worth up to £18.5million on Tuesday. Jones also revealed that he has not had any further conversations with Rasmus Ankersen and the Sport Republic directors, who have spent over £100million this season since acquiring the club. “We haven’t made knee-jerk decisions and reactions and suddenly gone berserk to keep us up,” Jones insisted, though, asked about his excitement over the deals. “Paul is a player who scores goals and is one of the top goalscorers in Europe. He gives us something we haven’t got, real size and aggression and something totally different to what this football club has had, along with maybe Broja and Pelle as the last real target men at the football club. “We’ve brought them in to supplement what we’ve got with Che, Arma and Sekou, and Kamaldeen was very sought after. He’s 20 years of age, really exciting with pace and power, can score goals and create and will only get better. “We’ve had a good window because it’s people that will help us now but will also safeguard the future of the football club.” Jones added: “We are excited because in every single window you’ll see this squad shape up so at no point will we go into games where we are fearful of set-pieces, or fearful of aggression or pace or anything. “We will get a rounded squad over time, I’ve built squads that are well-rounded, consistent, potent and are full of character and athleticism. In terms of my previous clubs, they had assets to sell. One of the best squads in the Championship, the most balanced with youth and experience but pace and power – the quickest team in the Championship. “Then, there are people that other teams want to buy – they’ve sold three in the window. Players like James Justin, Jack Stacey, Isaac Vassel all went for money. We want to build squads that one, win games. Two, are really valuable and three, they have real continuity. “It’s important we have players who are not here for one season and have to move on, players that have real continuity. At my previous club, there are players who got promoted from League Two who are now looking to get promoted from the Premier League. That shows good recruitment and that’s what we have to do here.” Don't miss a moment with our Saints morning briefing email. A message from the Editor Thank you for reading this article on the Daily Echo. Your support means we can bring you the latest breaking news, exclusive Saints features and coverage - and much more. Digital subscribers get unrestricted access to all of our stories, our dedicated app including e-version of the newspaper, and an advertising-light website. If you want all the latest articles delivered straight to your inbox you can join the thousands of subscribers who are signed up to our newsletters. They include our popular daily morning news briefing, breaking news, crime and court, and Southampton FC bulletins - plus business, heritage and our what's on newsletters.