Howe: We would like to add 1 or 2 bits of quality

AFC Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe will be looking to add some quality additions to his squad over the summer.

The Cherries have proved to be one of the surprise packages of this seasons Championship campaign.

Following promotion from League One alongside Doncaster Rovers and Yeovil Town last season, the Cherries initial aim was to survive in the second tier and aim to establish themselves in the division over the coming years.

However an improved second half of the season has seen the Cherries flirt with the play-off places and look on target to securing the clubs best ever finish at this level with a finish of 11th or higher.

Despite the squad’s core players having been built around the League One promotion winning side, Howe is determined to keep the squad together over the summer and only add a couple of additions to the side for next season.

Howe told the Daily Echo…

‘…We have been training regularly with 18, 19 or 20 players and, with several out on loan, we have trimmed the squad so regardless of which division we are in, I would want that core group of players with us next season. Nothing has affected any decisions on contracts and other things but transfer targets may change (if promoted).

“I want to keep together the squad because, from my perspective, I am very happy with it. I am happy with the balance and the attitude of the squad so I won`t be looking to make too many changes.

“I also want to try to keep the feeling in the group the same so think a lack of change would be a good thing. You would like to add one or two bits of quality to potentially make it even stronger for next season.

“But I have always been a firm believer in trying to maximise the squad you have rather than recruit from outside of it. Sometimes you can be very quick to move into the transfer market and bring in a whole host of players and then find you haven`t improved your squad at all…’