Bournemouth

Millie Sian
BBC Sport journalist

Andoni Iraola has been speaking to BBC Radio Solent before Sunday's final game of the Premier League season against Leicester City (kick-off 16:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• In of injury news, Alex Scott returned to training today and is wearing a mask to protect his fractured jaw. The midfielder's availability will be assessed tomorrow. A late call will also be made on James Hill's fitness.

• It is "very important" to finish in the top 10 after missing out on securing European football this season: "I want to finish with a win. I want to finish a very good season feeling that we have done something good."

• On the importance of taking three points against already-relegated Leicester City: "I will choose the team that I think will give us more guarantees to perform well and win. For me, it is a very important game."

• The Cherries go into their final game of the season three points better off away from home than at home this season, so he would like to "level this up at least" and "finish as the team deserves" after a much-improved season.

• Asked about only losing to Manchester City and Liverpool by more than one goal on aggregate in the Premier League this season, he responded: "When we haven't been at our very best, we have always thought we have a chance. We have been in games until the very end and I think that's something that speaks very well of the team. I hope we can keep this up for next season."

• Kepa Arrizabalaga will return to Chelsea following the conclusion of his loan spell and any permanent deal will be "a matter of negotiating with him and with Chelsea". He added that the goalkeeper's "character and experience" has been "very valuable" this season.

• Bournemouth currently have three first-team goalkeepers on their books - Mark Travers, Neto and Alex Paulsen - so there will "definitely be changes in that position" over the summer.

• There are plenty of transfer rumours surrounding Milos Kerkez but he confirmed that the defender's situation has not changed: "There is nothing concrete that I know. He has performed really well this season. I understand that there could be rumours and teams that will be wanting to sign him, but we are really happy with him. I don't have any news on him."

• However Iraola believes that once the transfer market opens, outgoing transfers "aren't in your hands a lot of the time".

• Despite his wingers picking up various injury problems this season, Iraola is "very happy with their level and performance" and does not feel it is an area he needs to strengthen in the summer transfer window.

• Ideally he would like to have four wingers fit for every game next season, with the idea being "two to start, two to finish". Luis Sinisterra has had "a very bad season in of injuries" and Enes Unal picked up a serious ACL injury so having both of them fit next season will be "really important".

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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Bournemouth forward Jaidon Anthony has ed Burnley in a permanent deal after a successful loan at the club.

Anthony provided eight goals and seven assists for the Clarets in their promotion-winning campaign.

In a parting message, Bournemouth said: "From our under-18s to the Premier League, and a class act on and off the pitch. Thank you."

Kris Temple
Former BBC Radio Solent commentator

The stories from the 22 years I spent commentating on AFC Bournemouth matches with Willo (John Williams), who is retiring as BBC Radio Solent's football pundit, would need their own book.

Eddie Howe played under Willo in his early days at AFCB, and you only have to see the warmth that Eddie, and other team-mates, have always had towards him to tell you what kind of guy he is. We used to be the only media allowed to travel on the Bournemouth team plane to northern games - simply because of the respect Eddie had for Willo.

He was alongside me for such a significant part of my life and was a brilliant ally and partner in crime. John understood the role and decided he was going to be unfailingly positive. Bournemouth as a town and a club has been a huge part of his life - one that he absolutely loves and will continue to do so.

Putting the wrong fuel in the car, getting lost in his native Liverpool, watching him on a slingshot ride on Blackpool Pier, trying to crowbar him into Everton's cosy press box, boarding a packed train to West Ham without him and countless dodgy quizzes with suspect or incomplete answers. It's been a ride.

Like a lot of couples who have spent two decades together, we had our moments bickering. My commentator's attention to detail drove him mad.

He's not an internet , or a savvy mobile phone operator. He doesn't do data and relies on his ex-professional's footballing eye. He loves nothing more than seeing a homegrown youngster progress and would clamour for them to play.

Willo is so popular with Bournemouth fans, particularly those who watched him play in the late 80s. If our motorway stop accidentally coincided with an AFCB ers' coach, after a few chants of "Willo, Willo, Willo" from the KFC queue, John decided he preferred staying with the car than be embarrassed by the attention.

Everything has to come to an end. I know Willo has given this plenty of thought and will hugely miss the job. The listeners (which include myself now) will certainly miss him.

Listen to John's final game as summariser on BBC Radio Solent from 16:00 BST on Sunday as he s Jordan Clark for Bournemouth v Leicester

Image source, BBC Radio Solent

The latest episode of Cherries: Unpicked is dedicated to commentator, John Williams (aka Willo), who retires this weekend after 23 years in the press box for BBC Radio Solent.

Jordan Clark and Willo chat in the dressing room at Vitality Stadium with special guests including Eddie Howe, Harry Redknapp and Sean O'Driscoll.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Tom Jordan
Fan writer

We asked our Bournemouth fan contributor for their four candidates for player of the season and you can now select your top one.

Ryan Christie

Christie is the man who makes Bournemouth tick - the unsung hero of the side, if you will. As the key cog in the Cherries' aggressive press, it has been evident when Ryan has been out of the side. A machine for Andoni Iraola's men.

Justin Kluivert

The void left by Dom Solanke's departure meant Bournemouth needed someone to step up with goals, and Justin has done just that. The current leading scorer, Kluivert has taken his game to another level at times, which has included two hat-tricks as well!

Lewis Cook

Lewis is definitely Bournemouth's 'Mr Consistent' and has rightly worn the captain's armband on many occasions. The composed playmaker has had to adapt to a right full-back position for a large part of the season, and he has unsurprisingly impressed in the role.

Tyler Adams

The Cherries' defensive numbers have improved this campaign and Adams is one of the key reasons for this. A fit-and-firing Tyler is the glue in the middle of the park, who must be a nuisance to play against. He relishes those midfield battles and suffocating his opponents.

Honourable mentions

Frankly, this could frankly be the rest of the squad as it has been an impressive team effort this season. Dean Huijsen and Illia Zabarnyi have been rocks, Milos Kerkez has been one of the league's top left-backs, Antoine Semenyo has been electrifying, Kepa Arrizabalaga has been an upgrade in goal, and Evanilson's first season has also been excellent.

Pick your 2024-25 Bournemouth player of the season from our shortlist here

And tell us why you're picking who you are, or why you'd have gone for another player not on the list, here

Find more from Tom Jordan at Back of the Net, external

Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport senior journalist

Image source, Getty Images

After Bournemouth's faint hopes of playing in Europe next season were finally extinguished on a balmy east Manchester evening, fans could have been forgiven for raising their eyebrows at what the opposition manager had to say afterwards.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola bemoaned the size of his squad – in that it is too big, and he hates having to disappoint so many players by leaving them out.

Most opponents would look on with envy at City's bench on Tuesday evening with Ballon d'Or winner Rodri and £100m g Jack Grealish among those substitutes brought on, while England regular Phil Foden and former Cherries favourite Nathan Ake were among those not called upon.

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola will have the opposite problem this weekend as his team wrap up their season against Leicester at Vitality Stadium.

With the Cherries still battling for a top-half finish, Iraola is close to running out of central midfielders, after Lewis Cook's red card against City earned him a suspension.

With Cook unavailable, Ryan Christie's groin surgery and Alex Scott's fractured jaw (courtesy of Tyrone Mings' elbow), it has left Tyler Adams, who himself has had to battle plenty of injuries in his two years in Dorset, as the last man standing in the middle of the park.

With the Foxes already relegated and the road to Europe now blocked, there will be less overt pressure on Iraola's side on Sunday, though the owners will not need reminding how every place in the Premier League is worth several million pounds in prize money.

So Iraola must shuffle his pack one last time this season, with the identity of Adams' midfield partner the most interesting selection.

Marcus Tavernier and David Brooks have occasionally filled deeper, central roles when the Cherries have been flinging everyone forward in search of late goals, but rather than field a wide player or defender out of position, it could be an ideal opportunity if Iraola feels young midfielder Ben Winterburn from the development squad is ready for a first Premier League start.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Tuesday's defeat by Manchester City at Etihad Stadium.

Here are some of your comments:

Matt: Out of steam after a long season with a thin squad. Proud of all we have achieved. Hopefully the top-half finish is still in reach. Strength in depth required as we build the squad for 2025-26. Never a red card for Lewis Cook. The game is gone.

Peyer: Very poor by the Cherries. We seem to have lost the power and pace we played with earlier in the season. City deserved winners - no problem with either sending off. If we finish 11th or 12th it will have been a great season. Will be there to cheer the boys on Sunday. Up the Cherries.

James: We never really got into the game. We had a few moments but after the first goal it was always going to be an uphill battle as we struggle to break teams down that sit behind the ball. Frustrated that we couldn't keep our heads after they went down to 10 at 2-0. One goal and we would have been right back in the game but after Cook's red the defeat was inevitable. End of our Euro dream (for now). Difficult Tuesday night but also the best season ever!

Geoff: Another poor performance from Bournemouth. Midfield non-existent in the first half. The season has just run away, with just a whimper. A very disappointing watch yet again!

Paul: They were all off the pace from the start. Nothing to play for now before the game and they don't want to get injured to ruin any potential transfers they have in their minds. Some have had this mindset for weeks now and it's ruined what could have been a season for all time. Priority is to keep hold of Andoni Iraola going into the close season and extend his contract. He will clean house and shake us up ready for 2025-26.

Image source, Getty Images

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola told BBC Match of the Day: "We would have loved even to take it to the last game [a chance of Europe], even with some possibilities. We knew that it was today very difficult because it was not only this result, we needed a lot more.

"I don't think we've been bad, we needed to be at our very, very best to beat City today because I think they started the game very focused. I think they even rested some players the other day, thinking that today was big for them. You could see from the beginning that it was going to be tough."

The Cherries boss added: "In these kinds of stadiums, against this kind of opposition, you need the key moments to go to your side.

"Evanilson hit the post which could have made it 1-1, and then also the second red card when we were in a good situation with time to play against 10 players, instead straight away it is 10 against 10 and everything goes even.

"I think our red card, you have to understand it. Lewis arrived, it was not a 50-50 ball, he arrives first and then tries to pull out, and this pulling out probably makes it look worse because he raises his foot and the is higher.

"If you go maybe more strong it will be more dangerous for Nico, harder, but maybe not a red card. You have to understand the game.

"Lewis wins the ball clear, it is a clear tackle and then he tries to pull out so I don't think it should be a red, but I understand also why he takes that decision."

Did you know?

Daniel Jebbison's consolation for Bournemouth was their 13th goal scored via a substitute in the Premier League this season, with only Fulham (17) netting more from the bench this term.

Manchester City will battle Liverpool for 21-year-old Bournemouth and Hungary left-back Milos Kerkez. (i paper - subscription required), external

Want more transfer news? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Man City's performance

What did you make of Bournemouth's display?

Come back to this page on Wednesday to find a selection of your replies

There are two Premier League matches being played this evening, and you can follow every kick on BBC Sport.

• Crystal Palace v Wolves

• Man City v Bournemouth

Both kick-off times 20:00 BST

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Sam Davis
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

They say you should never fall in love with a loan player. This season, the same might be said for our permanent gs too, as Dean Huijsen, after just one campaign at Bournemouth, is moving to Real Madrid for £50m.

It feels like yesterday that we watched the Cherries entertain Los Blancos in a pre-season friendly, a fixture boasting the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric and Mesut Ozil. While the game itself was, perhaps aptly, a "white-washing", who knew that just over a decade later we would be supplying their stars of the future.

At the time we signed him, he was hotly tipped as a player of the future - tall, combative, comfortable with the ball at his feet, but also, someone who likes to get up the pitch and score goals too.

With a solid defensive partnership of Marcos Senesi and Illiya Zabarnyi, it was not really known what impact he would have during his first season, but everything changed when Marcos picked up an injury against Wolves in November.

Huijsen lived up to the hype.

When he leaves, Huijsen will have clocked up no more than 30 league appearances, meaning that, once Juve's sell-on fee is settled, he will have made Bournemouth £1m for each match he played.

In hindsight, it feels like £50m is a steal, but the fact is, how did we know how good he would end up being?

His success is testament to all areas of the club. For Bill Foley investing the money in the club, for our recruitment for finding him, and for Andoni Iraola - whose job has been remarkable.

There have not been many players who have been so influential in such a short time at AFCB, but Huijsen leaves the club with all Bournemouth fans fully behind him.

Find more from Sam Davis at Back of the Net, external

This is not a must-win game for Manchester City's top-five hopes but they could really do with a victory here.

Four points from their past two games against Bournemouth and Fulham will almost certainly see City finish in the Champions League places because of their goal difference, but their home form is much better than their results on the road and they certainly will not want to go to Craven Cottage on the final day needing a win.

Mind you, this game will not be straightforward for City either. Bournemouth have already beaten them once this season and ran them close in the FA Cup quarter-finals too, so we know they can cause them problems.

City's home form has been much more reliable of late, however, with four wins at Etihad Stadium in a row, and that is the main reason I am backing them here.

It is Kevin de Bruyne's final match at the Etihad, but City are going to have to play well to give him the send-off he deserves, and they need him to perform too.

De Bruyne has been a phenomenal player for City and it would be fitting if he can say farewell with a goal or one of his trademark assists.

Sutton's prediction: 3-1

Make your own prediction here, external

Holly Bacon
BBC Sport journalist

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has been speaking to the media before Tuesday's Premier League game at Manchester City (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On Dean Huijsen: "You never want to lose this kind of player. He has been very good for us but there is a part also that you feel happy for him because he goes to Real Madrid. I think it is what he really wanted to do and we hope everything goes well for him after these two games."

• Iraola added: "I have no doubts he is ready for the jump. He has the level - not only on the football side - the maturity, the confidence in himself to go there and perform."

• On team news, Iraola itted they will "finish pretty thin" and "will need some young players in the squad".

• Iraola said Alex Scott has had a mask fitted but his return date will depend on how comfortable he is with it. He added that Scott is currently having to eat with a straw but he wants to play. Iraola did not rule him out of their final day game against Leicester but itted it would be "very difficult".

• Iraola watched City's FA Cup final defeat by Crystal Palace and thinks their approach approach against Bournemouth will be different. On the result's significance, he added: "Even if it means we have less chances now to qualify for Europe I think we have to congratulate Palace because a team that is not the six/eight teams that are fighting for titles winning a title like the FA Cup is good overall for the league and for football."

• On the race for Europe: "We are playing away against City in a game where they are in need to play for Champions League [qualification]. It is not the scenario you want but it's the one we have right now and we have to try to go there and play our game. It's true that after the FA Cup final the chances to get into Europe are very limited."

• The Bournemouth boss praised Manchester City and said they are pushing to finish the season strongly: "They don't give you anything. You have to be very patient, mentally very ready to suffer because no-one is having a lot of chances, nobody is having a lot of the ball against them and I felt these last two months they are really pushing to finish well."

Image source, Getty Images

Bournemouth have had more shot-ending high turnovers than any other side in the Premier League this season (65). However, Manchester City have faced fewer shots from high turnovers than any other side in the competition this term (28).

City have scored 13 goals from outside the box in the Premier League this season, more than any other side. However, the Cherries have conceded just two goals from distance, fewer than anyone else.

Before this season, Crystal Palace's victory at Wembley would have tidied up the European qualification position within the Premier League.

However, England gaining a coveted European Performance Spot has added a layer of complication, which is why Brentford, Brighton, Bournemouth and Fulham fans should not give up hope of a Conference League place just yet.

Here is why.

Ordinarily, England gets four Champions League places, two in the Europa League, for the FA Cup winners and the fifth placed team and one in the Conference League for the Carabao Cup winners.

So far, so straightforward.

If the Carabao Cup winners qualify for one of the higher ranking European competitions, the Conference League spot goes to the next team down in the Premier League.

Just as Manchester United or Tottenham will qualify for the Champions League because one of them will win the Europa League after finishing outside the Champions League places, the same is also true for Chelsea if they win the Conference League and finish outside the Europa League places.

Still with me?

The complication comes through EPS. So, while fifth now gets you into the Champions League and sixth into the Europa League, for the purposes of competition qualification, the EPS situation doesn't count.

So, if Chelsea finish sixth and win the Conference League, without EPS, they would already be in the Conference League berth, so they go into the Europa League as Conference League winners and England would not take its Conference League place. With EPS added, instead of the sixth-placed team (Chelsea) qualifying for the Europa League through their league placing, because they are already in, the seventh-placed team benefits. So that would be three English teams in the Europa League and none in the Conference League.

By the same process, if Chelsea finish seventh and win the Conference League, without EPS, they would qualify for the Europa League despite being outside the European places, meaning three English teams in the Europa League – Chelsea, Palace and the fifth placed team – and one – the sixth-placed team – in the Conference League. With EPS added, everything drops down a place BUT as Chelsea are already in the Europa League, instead of the Conference League spot going to them after finishing seventh, it goes to the eighth placed team.

In other words, the teams battling for eighth need Chelsea to win the Conference League and to finish seventh.