Jason Tindall has secured his first signing as AFC Bournemouth manager.
Since taking over the Dean Court hot seat following the departure of Eddie Howe following relegation from the Premier League, Tindall has only seen departures walking through the revolving door at the stadium.
The first player to leave the club was Ryan Fraser, who not only downed tools during the season but then refused to sign a short contract extension following the Premier League season being suspended due to the Coronavirus pandemic. He would later join former Cherries and England striker Callum Wilson in joining Newcastle United.
Wilson left for a reported £20 million, which was added to the £40million the Cherries recouped from the sale of Nathan Ake to Manchester City and the £18.5million from Sheffield United for goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.
Midfielder Harry Arter was sold to Nottingham Forest for an undisclosed fee, whilst Andrew Surman, Simon Francis, Jermain Defoe, Jordon Ibe, Brad Smith and Artur Boruc all left following the end of their contracts.
With a lot of money cut from the annual wage bill at Dean Court following relegation to the Championship, Tindall now looks set to add to his squad.
That man has been widely tipped to be Atletico Madrid winger Rodrigo Riquelme.
The 20-year-old has been training with Championship rivals Reading ahead of an apparent loan move, however, despite tabloid newspaper The Sun claiming Riquelme’s agent having strong links with Reading, AFC Bournemouth have swooped in to hijack the deal.
Bournemouth. Surprise move for Rodrigo Riquelme. Atletico Madrid winger. Due to join Reading. Now Cherries in. All of a sudden. Loan battle.
— Alan Nixon (@reluctantnicko) September 28, 2020
#AFCB are interested in Athletico Madrid winger Rodrigo Riquelme.
A young, exciting player with just one appearance for the first team in the Copa Del Ray.
Reading also keen on the player.
— Mark McAdam (@markmcadamtv) September 28, 2020
On Tuesday it appeared that AFC Bournemouth had beaten Reading to the young winger’s signature when Sky Sports presenter Mark McAdam stated that Jason Tindall believes he was just 24-48 hours away from making his first signing.
Jason Tindall has said this morning that #AFCB are 24-48 hours away from a signing.
It would be there first this summer.
— Mark McAdam (@markmcadamtv) September 29, 2020
There was no confirmation that Riquelme would be that man, but McAdam did later confirm that the winger had been at Dean Court this week.
Rodrigo Riquelme is at the Vitality !!
Still a little way to go on this one but a season long loan deal with Atletico Madrid has been agreed.
Medical to be completed this afternoon.
Jason Tindall is close to his first signing…
— Mark McAdam (@markmcadamtv) September 29, 2020
Those 48 hours ticked by with no announcement, but Cherries fans didn’t have to wait long for official confirmation.
The deal was confirmed as a season-long loan agreement, with the option to buy at the end of the season.
Riquelme will be available to face Coventry City in the Championship on Friday, live on Sky Sports, subject to receiving international clearance.
Comunicado Oficial 😉#afcb 🍒 pic.twitter.com/6UdwKw5ETR
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) October 1, 2020
Tindall told afcb.co.uk…
“It is great to have a new signing on board and especially someone of Rodrigo’s quality.
“I have made it very clear that we will only sign players who can improve our squad and we have now done that.
“This football club has been synonymous with impactful wingers over the years, and Rodrigo fits that bill perfectly.
“He is a creative, exciting talent who I cannot wait to start working with.”
Your say…
Tinpot Club wrote…
Be interesting to see how he will fit in with Danjuma as it seems they prefer similar positions. Sure Danjuma can play through the middle but probably not as a no. 9
I guess if we wanted to play a 4-2-3-1 we could go with a three of Riquelme, Danjuma and Brooks from left to right behind Solanke.
Good to have options though! – Join the conversation, click here.
