Bournemouth

Bournemouth have set a £45m price tag for their 21-year-old Hungary left-back Milos Kerkez, who is wanted by Liverpool. (iSport), external

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In addition to Premier League manager and player of the season, the shortlist for young player has also been announced.

Chelsea's Cole Palmer is in the running to win the award for the second year in a row.

The 23-year-old forward has 15 goals and eight assists in 35 appearances.

Liverpool's Ryan Gravenberch and Liam Delap, who has scored 12 of Ipswich's 35 goals, are also on the eight-player shortlist.

The other nominees are Anthony Elanga (Nottingham Forest), Dean Huijsen (Bournemouth), Joao Pedro (Brighton), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), and William Saliba (Arsenal).

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Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Tiago Pinto, Bournemouth's president of football operations, was crucial in the g of Dean Huijsen.

The Portuguese ed the Cherries from Roma in 2024, where he was general manager.

He was key in landing Huijsen, having watched the former Roma defender on loan at the Stadio Olimpico that season.

Those with knowledge of the negotiations say Pinto knew he could exploit Juventus' need to sell players.

This is despite one source in Turin saying they thought Huijsen could become "world class" even when he started out in their academy teams.

Bournemouth ended up g Huijsen for £12.6m, in a deal potentially rising to £15m.

After an injury to team-mate Marcos Senesi, Huijsen broke into Bournemouth's starting XI and hasn't looked back.

He was exceptional on his third Premier League start, scoring a towering header in a 1-0 win over Tottenham at Vitality Stadium in December.

He has since made his debut for Spain and been ever-present in Andoni Iraola's defence.

Once a move to the Bernabeu is completed, the Cherries will have quadrupled their initial outlay on the defender.

Real Madrid are willing to pay the £50m release clause to sign 20-year-old central defender Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth. (Sky Sports), external

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Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport senior journalist

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The ups and downs of Bournemouth's season have been encapsulated by their past two games - with the highs of completing a league double over Arsenal contrasting with the lows of Saturday's defeat by Aston Villa which may have snuffed out a hope that would have been unfathomable until recently - a first tilt at Europe.

Indeed, with the Cherries' penultimate league game put back because of opponents Manchester City's participation in the FA Cup final, that European dream could be extinguished before Andoni Iraola's side next kick a ball.

Victory for Crystal Palace at Wembley on Saturday would remove the permutation of eighth place qualifying for the Conference League, but even if City prevail, a league win for Brentford on Sunday or Brighton on Monday would leave the Cherries with a mountain to climb when they visit City on Tuesday.

All this disappointment rather overshadowed a milestone reached against Villa when defender Adam Smith notched up his 400th Bournemouth appearance.

The former Tottenham right-back now stands sixth on the Cherries' all-time appearance list, needing seven more to match James Hayter and break into a "top five" also featuring Ray Bumstead, Sean O'Driscoll, Neil Young and Steve Fletcher.

Smith first ed on loan from Spurs for the 2010-11 season before moving permanently in January 2014, and his career has shown unusual longevity in the modern era, becoming the only player in Bournemouth's history to feature under seven different permanent managers (excluding caretakers).

Indeed, in the past six years the Cherries have signed four other, younger right-backs, all of whom might have been seen as a long-term replacement for Smith - but so far, he has "seen off" all four.

Jack Stacey signed from Luton in 2019 but left for Norwich two years ago, while Ryan Fredericks arrived with Premier League pedigree from West Ham in 2022 but departed last summer after an injury-plagued spell at Vitality Stadium.

Max Aarons came from Norwich in 2023 (effectively trading clubs with Stacey) but found himself out of favour and was loaned out to Valencia in January, while Julian Araujo signed a five-year deal from Barcelona last summer, but has had to be content with the role of Smith's back-up for now.

While Lewis Cook's versatility and ability to deputise at right-back has meant Smith has sometimes been sacrificed if Iraola is chasing late goals, he remains an important figure in the dressing room.

And whether or not their European chances come down to the last day of the season, with Smith and Cook having recently opened a barber shop together in Canford Cliffs, they will know all about how to cope with a close shave.

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For the players and fans, Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi getting this injury in a situation where the offside flag should have been raised is so frustrating.

The frustration is when it is clear and obvious. Officials have been overseeing games for many years and they would always flag whether they were right or wrong.

Now technology has come into it, they are very reliant on VAR to make the right decision, the factual decision, about an offside. But, I think when an offside is so clear and obvious, it should be the duty of the assistant referee to put their flag up and stop play from the off.

When it is marginal, I understand we are a bit more hesitant when there are really fine margins, and we have seen those fine margins when goals have been given and it is a toenail to keep them on-side. I would understand it from that point of view, but it was on the halfway-line where the offside happened on Sunday, only for play to be allowed to continue.

It has been a matter of time. It has been a time bomb waiting to go off for somebody to get seriously injured. Awoniyi is the one that has got that injury - that horrific injury - because of it. Some will say it is only the first time it has happened in the duration of this rule, but it should never happen. That is how players will be looking at it, how fans and managers will be looking at it and saying 'it should never happen'. We should not wait for something to happen to reassess rules like this.

I don't like the ruling of it - it is on the halfway-line, it is clear and obviously offside, everybody in the stadium could probably see it. It should be for the assistant referee to make the decision. There are small margins in the box, I understand why they are a bit hesitant, but in open play, if somebody is sprinting, you could cause hamstring, quad, and all types of muscle injuries.

I am totally against this rule of waiting to put up the flag and I think most players and managers are as well. It's disappointing. I think it's a rule that nobody likes, and I'm sure in the summer off the back of this injury, one that will probably be reassessed.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

Dean Huijsen dreams of ing Real Madrid, but Premier League trio Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea are prepared to trigger the defender's £50m release clause to get the deal done this month. (Fabrizio Romano, external)

Meanwhile, Manchester United have held talks with Ghana forward Antoine Semenyo, 25, over a possible move from Bournemouth. (Talksport, external)

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Sam Davis
Fan writer

On Saturday, Aston Villa secured all three points at Bournemouth in a game dubbed as "must win" by both sets of ers. The result means we are possibly reg ourselves to the realisation that this season probably has come too soon for European football.

As fans, we're always wary of the rollercoaster ride that football brings. We've experienced a multitude of emotions during this season. It has been a campaign that has seen the club break records in the league, plus we secured another FA Cup quarter-final appearance too, however, naturally - we always have the intrusive thoughts about "what if".

Indeed, the European dream isn't even over, and perhaps securing an improbable result against Manchester City might cause Bournemouth fans to dream again, but chances do now feel slim.

Andoni Iraola's job at Bournemouth has been nothing short of remarkable, but with players set to depart and an influx of summer gs that will have to learn the "Iraola" way of playing, there is a thought that maybe we have blown our chance.

As the club gets "bigger", we are aware that Bournemouth's conveyor belt will move faster than ever in of incomings and outgoings, and that is testament to the job that the manager is doing. But how do we know that we can replicate this synergy in the next campaign?

Truth is, we'll never know, and as fans, all we can do is trust the process. It's a process that has seen us entertain on the pitch, develop a brand new training facility, as well as the promise of stadium expansion too.

The future is bright at Bournemouth, so while a defeat by a resolute Villa may cut deep right now, the overall picture has not changed - Cherries are still on the rise.

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Bournemouth captain Adam Smith's 400th appearance for the club ended on a bitter note as they lost 1-0 to Aston Villa.

The defender stated that he didn't really care about the milestone as much as he would have liked to win against Villa.

"Maybe it's something I will look back on as an achievement once I've retired but now, just so disappointed with the game really," Smith said to BBC Radio Solent.

"Obviously, it's nice for my career that I've done that but I'd rather win today, to be honest. Kind of spoilt my weekend.

"I am just taking game by game and hopefully we can finish the season strong and I can enjoy my summer and celebrate with my family."

Tell us how you would sum up Smith's 400 games with Bournemouth

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Bournemouth and Aston Villa.

Here are some of your comments:

Bournemouth fans

Sam: Credit to Villa - they kept us quiet, created chances and deserved to win in the end. I was hoping we might nick a goal but not to be. Here's hoping Europe is not a step too far as ultimately for all the good results, it would end up being a disappointing season considering where we have been in the table at times. Come on Cherries, let's attack these final two games with all we have got and then what will be will be. At least we could end the season knowing we have given it our all.

Peter: Just one question - how on arth did Tyrone Mings get away with that elbow? Blatant violent conduct - straight red card.

Kevin: Bournemouth couldn't get into any rhythm, Villa did a great job stopping Bournemouth attacking. They deserved the win.

Tim: Possibly Bournemouth's worst display of the season. es went astray, dead ball situations wasted and, until the final 10 minutes, an untypical lack of urgency.

Aston Villa fans

Jonny: Matty Cash stole man of the match with that goalline clearance at the death. He performed irably, shutting down Bournemouth's attack all game. Ollie Watkins taking Gabriel Agbonlahor's record is an achievement well earned by his time at Villa. One step closer to the Champions League!

Simon: Substance over style. The points are more important than the performances at this point of the season. So pleased for Ollie Watkins getting our Premier League goals record.

Ian: Great three points for the Villa after a very hard fought game against a very good Bournemouth side. We defended very well and could have had another couple of goals. A vital win and two more to go that hopefully will see us back in the Champions League.

Rob: Great three points for the Villa. Very hard fought game against a very good Bournemouth side. We defended very well and could have had another couple of goals. Vital win, two more to go, which hopefully will see us back in the Champions League.

Joe Rindl
BBC Sport journalist

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Defeat ended Bournemouth's five-game unbeaten run and checked their rise up the table.

The hosts were limited to a few half-chances for the first 80 minutes but then sparked into life, creating a hatful of opportunities once Aston Villa were reduced to 10 men.

Of all their late chances, Bournemouth will especially rue not putting the ball in the net with almost the last kick of the game when Martinez got a crucial touch on Semenyo's header and Matty Cash managed to clear from under his own bar with Daniel Jebbison lurking.

It meant the Cherries stayed 10th, two points behind Brentford in eighth place.

They have lost five of their last seven Premier League home games (W1 D1), with their previous five defeats at the Vitality Stadium coming over a 25-game spell (W13 D7).

Eighth will be enough for a European spot this season if Crystal Palace lose in the FA Cup final to Manchester City.

Bournemouth are at Manchester City in their next match on Tuesday, 20 May, before hosting already-relegated Leicester City on the final day of the season.

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Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola speaking to BBC Match of the Day after their 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa: "I think the game has gone more similar to the one they wanted to play. I think in the first half it was a lot of stop and go and not a lot of rhythm. It hasn't been enough for us. Overall I think they managed better. We haven't been able to punish them.

"We need to manage the small things better. It is a very experienced team and probably they have competed better than us. For us the situation changes. Now we are behind some teams and we have to wait on some results and make sure we recover and finish the season well.

"We want to be in this fight and we have to continue. We don't know where we are going to finish but we have to keep going."

On Adam Smith reaching 400 games: "We are talking about big numbers. You have to be here in the good moments, bad moments. Adam trains very well and the players who get these numbers, it is not just a coincidence."

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Bournemouth have lost five of their last seven Premier League home games (W1 D1), with their previous five defeats at the Vitality Stadium coming over a 25-game spell (W13 D7).

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This should be a cracking game. Aston Villa really need a win to boost their hopes of making the top five, but how can I back against a Bournemouth side that beat Arsenal last time out?

Part of my predictions strategy last week was to back the teams who are going for the Champions League places, but I don't think you can just ignore how well a team like Bournemouth are playing.

Sutton's prediction: 2-2

Read the full predictions and have your say here.

Five matches make up Saturday's Premier League action and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.

• Fulham v Everton

• Ipswich Town v Brentford

• Southampton v Manchester City - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Wolves v Brighton

• Bournemouth v Aston Villa (17:30 BST) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

All kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Josh Lobley
BBC Sport Journalist

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Aston Villa (kick-off 17:30 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Iraola says that Dango Ouattara is unlikely to feature again this season because of an adductor injury. Ryan Christie, Enes Unal and Luis Sinisterra are still not ready to return to action.

• Regardless of what happens in the final three games, he classes this as a special season for the club: "We have been really good this season. Offensively and defensively, we are up there with teams who are better than us - it is something to be proud of. Now we have to give the last push to get something tangible. To get big rewards you have to do big things."

• On Saturday's opponents: "If we want to make them suffer, we have to play like the big teams do at home [against them] and this is not easy. They have been a little bit better than us [in previous matches against them] but we have been quite competitive. We need to change some things to close the gap."

• He spoke highly of club captain Adam Smith, whose next game will be his 400th for the Cherries: "You have to be consistently performing very well [to reach 400 matches] and fighting against your team-mates for your position. He wants to train well every day and is someone who is very reliable. He understands his strengths and weaknesses. I think he can still add more games to that amount."

• On the importance of data in his success on the south coast: "Data is very valuable for me - now we maybe have too much! I like to analyse, we have data from past games and seasons, there are patterns and you see there are reasons behind things. You can't only focus on data but for the scouting department and us analysing our performance, it is a big help."

Listen to live commentary of the match on BBC Radio 5 Live

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

Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport senior journalist

While Bournemouth recently broke new ground (literally) with the opening of their new training centre, and hope to break more (metaphorically) if they can meet owner Bill Foley's ambition of qualifying for Europe, it will soon be the end of another era.

BBC Radio Solent's long-serving Cherries summariser John Williams, 64, announced at the final whistle of Saturday's historic win at Arsenal that he would be retiring at the end of the season after an association with Bournemouth stretching back for nearly four decades.

Universally known as "Willo" to team-mates, fans and colleagues alike, John's accent immediately reveals his Merseyside origins. Born in Liverpool, he grew up as a staunch Everton fan and began his playing career at Tranmere in 1979. A square-jawed, old-school central defender, he moved to Port Vale in 1985 but the following year he caught the eye of a certain Harry Redknapp.

Although Redknapp must have signed thousands of players across his long managerial career, he has repeatedly cited Williams as his best g (yes, even above luring Paolo di Canio to West Ham). Moving to Dean Court in December 1986, he played a key role as Redknapp's Cherries won the old Third Division title to reach the second tier for the first time in their history.

Long before assists were a common footballing metric, Willo would have racked up an impressively high number for a centre-back, with his physique (receding hairline included) perfectly suited to flicking corners on at the near post for a team-mate to score. There was even the odd goal too, such as an overhead kick at Leicester on Boxing Day 1989 reminiscent of Pele in the film Escape to Victory.

But his playing days were ultimately cut short by injury. Ruled out of the final run-in of the 1989-90 season, Willo had a glimpse of his future radio career as a guest summariser for Radio Solent's commentary as the Cherries were relegated following defeat by Leeds.

He remained on Bournemouth's books for a further season, being loaned to Norwegian side Stromsgodset and Wigan before leaving for a brief spell with Cardiff. However, he was soon back at Dean Court, brought back by Redknapp's successor Tony Pulis as community officer and soon promoted to youth team coach.

When Pulis was sacked just before the start of the 1994-95 season, Willo found himself elevated to caretaker manager for the first half-dozen games, but stayed on as assistant manager to Mel Machin for nearly six seasons.

Since the early 2000s, he has remained as Radio Solent's regular summariser, forming a popular on-air partnership with commentator Kris Temple for many years, travelling up and down the country as the Cherries rose through the divisions to the Premier League.

Willo was recently asked the big question - who does he want to win when Bournemouth play Everton?

"Well, it's like Everton's my girlfriend, but Bournemouth's my wife," he said with a chuckle.