Exclusive: Bournemouth open talks for Arsenal winger Reiss Nelson
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has made direct contact with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to discuss a potential move for winger Reiss Nelson, FootballTransfers understands.
The 25-year-old has returned to Arsenal after a mixed loan at Fulham, which ended due to a hamstring injury. With the transfer window open, Nelson is attracting fresh interest, and Bournemouth are now pushing the hardest, we are told.
Sources confirm that Iraola personally reached out to Arteta, reinforcing Bournemouth’s approach in the process. The two managers, who have known each other since childhood, maintain a close relationship, and the conversation has been described as constructive.
The pair also had a discussion about Oleksandr Zinchenko earlier in the summer. However, the Cherries ultimately opted to sign Adrien Truffert for €13.5 million after Arsenal informed them that it would require well over €20m to sign the Ukraine international.
Bournemouth are preparing for the potential departure of Antoine Semenyo, which would create a gap out wide. Nelson is viewed as a natural replacement – quick, technical, and Premier League-ready.
Arsenal open to Nelson offers
Nelson is under contract until 2027, but Arsenal are open to offers. Despite Arteta being a fan, competition for minutes is fierce, and the homegrown wants regular football.
Fulham are also monitoring the situation after last season’s loan, but Bournemouth are currently the favourites, thanks to Iraola’s direct involvement and a playing style that suits Nelson.
The former England U21 international was restricted to just 12 appearances for Fulham last season, in which he contributed two goals and an assist.
At present, Nelson is still working his way back to full fitness. A final decision on any move could hinge on pre-season form, but Bournemouth are ready to act fast if he proves he’s ready.
With Semenyo potentially leaving and Iraola personally leading the chase, Bournemouth are well-placed to land Nelson.
‘Bournemouth in nightmare window as star player exodus intensifies’
Bournemouth are facing a “nightmare” transfer window amid a growing threat that they could be set to lose even more key players.
That is according to former Man United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected within the game, as he exclusively told Football Insider that the Cherries are now at risk of having their squad “picked apart”.
Having already lost Dean Huijsen and Milos Kerkez to Real Madrid and Liverpool respectively, there are concerns that more key players could quit the Vitality Stadium.
Brown told Football Insider on 19 June that Justin Kluivert wants to join Bayer Leverkusen and has discussed his future with his agent amid after his teammates’ moves.
Andoni Iraola’s side face a difficult task to convince other key players to stay amid growing interest, and are at risk of their squad being heavily depleted.
Meanwhile, Football Insider revealed that Bournemouth are braced to lose Ilya Zabarnyi to Paris Saint-Germain, and Antoine Semenyo is wanted by Tottenham.
Bournemouth fear mass summer exodus after major exits
Brown told Football Insider on 27 June that Bournemouth are determined to keep hold of Semenyo and have set a £70million price tag to deter the likes of Spurs.
The former scout, who has a wealth of experience in top-level player recruitment after over a decade at Man United during their most successful period, has insisted
“I feel sorry for them, to be honest,” he told Football Insider.
“They’ve worked hard to identify players and build the side they had, bring them in and develop their games, and now they’re being picked apart.
“They took a chance on players like Kerkez and Huijsen and now other teams will reap the rewards of their hard work.
“If they lose somebody like Semenyo or Zabarnyi, as well as the goalkeeper, that’s at least four key players who have left the club already.
“It doesn’t seem to me there’s a lot they can do about it.
“The positive, of course, is they’re making a lot of money out of these players and it’s difficult to argue against that from an owner’s point of view.
“But the problem with losing so many key players is more than just surface level.
“You get other players looking at the situation and speaking to their agents to find them a move, because they don’t want to be part of a sinking ship.
“It’s a bit of a nightmare situation for the club and for the manager.
“They’ve got to go into next season without some of their most important players, and they’ll take some replacing in the transfer market.”
Leave a Reply