Nottingham Forest, Everton and Bournemouth in mix as player leaves training for transfer

Johan Bakayoko has been pulled out of PSV’s training camp as clubs including Nottingham Forest, Everton and Bournemouth are in the picture to sign the attacker, reports De Telegraaf.

Indeed, a transfer is thought to be so imminent that it could be agreed today. Whilst RB Leipzig are presented as frontrunners by the German media, the Dutch newspaper don’t see it as done and that’s why they report the interest from Nottingham Forest, Everton and Bournemouth.

Borussia Dortmund are also keen and it’s claimed the situation could go in one of ‘many directions’.

Bakayoko has longed been linked with a move to the Premier League and his contract situation makes him all the more attractive. The 22-year-old’s deal expires in June 2026 and that puts downward pressure on his transfer fee.

Al Hilal offered €55m last year but the player rejected the move as football in the Middle east isn’t part of his planned career path. Now PSV are expected to get just over €20m.

Last season, Bakayoko played 47 matches matches on the right wing, scoring 12 goals and adding three assists.

Marshall appointed AFC Bournemouth director of medical and performance

THE Cherries have announced the appointment of Dr Robert Percy Marshall as the club’s new director of medical and performance.

As reported, the club was finalising the deal for Marshall from RB Leipzig, but were cautious with the deal after their experience with bringing Inigo Perez and failing to get a work permit.

But the club have now confirmed the appointment, with Marshall set to ‘lead and coordinate all areas of athlete performance across the club’.

This will help to coordinate and integrate the sports science and medical departments, the club said.

Alongside this, he will oversee nutrition, recovery and psychological support to ‘drive long-term performance research and innovation’.

The current performance director Jay Mellette will return to the Vegas Golden Knights to take up the position of vice president of performance and medicine ahead of the 2025/26 NHL season – also owned by Bill Foley.

Mellett joined the Cherries in the summer of 2023 and ‘played a critical role in elevating the club’s performance strategy’.

AFC Bournemouth’s president of football operations, Tiago Pinto, told afcb.co.uk: “I’m delighted to welcome Robert to the club as our new Performance Director. He is someone with many years of experience, who can help bring new ideas and shape the future of performance for our club.

“He will join us in July and work closely with Andoni and the squad ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, as we look to build on our successes of the previous season.

“I’d like to extend my thanks to Jay for the role he has played across his two years at the club. We’re extremely grateful for his efforts and wish him well as he embarks on his next journey within the organisation.”

Marshall was at RB Leipzig for seven years, where he worked with Justin Kluivert and Tyler Adams.

The German previously worked at Hamburger SV as academy medical director from April 2012 to July 2018, with a spell as club doctor between August 2015 and August 2017.

Marshall is a specialist in physical and rehabilitative medicine, according to loop.frontiersin.org.

He has a master’s degree in micronutrient therapy and regulatory medicine and is a co-founder of the Institute for Sports and Exercise Medicine at the University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf.

Marshall has written scientific publications as a visiting scientist at the Faculty of Experimental Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine at the University Hospital Halle (Saale).