Journalist makes AFC Bournemouth transfer claim on defensive duo

AFC Bournemouth pair Chris Mepham and Jack Stacey may seek a move away from the Vitality Stadium during the upcoming summer transfer window, according to Dorset Live’s Jacob Tanswell.

Mepham has found himself behind the likes of Gary Cahill, Lloyd Kelly and loanee Nat Phillips for much of the campaign despite being a regular Welsh international, making just 22 league appearances this season with many of those displays coming from the bench.

Zeno Ibsen Rossi is also set to return from his loan spell north of the border and with manager Scott Parker likely to have a reasonably-sized budget, a centre-back or two coming in is likely to push the Welshman further down the pecking order.

Another man that may find himself surplus to requirements in the coming months is Jack Stacey who has been in competition with Adam Smith and Ethan Laird for a starting spot at different stages this term.

Appearing 25 times in the second tier this term, he has been a semi-regular player but may want to win more game time elsewhere if he wants to have the best chance of fulfilling his potential as he prepares to enter the peak of his playing career in the next couple of years.

Although both haven’t exactly been completely frozen out of the first team at the Vitality Stadium, journalist Tanswell believes the duo may request to seal moves away from the south coast this summer with their respective contracts expiring next year.

The Verdict:

For their sakes, surely it would be better for both players to move on at this stage because loan moves for Nat Phillips and Ethan Laird in January shows Parker wanted to bring new options into these positions.

And that may serve as a warning to the likes of Stacey and Mepham who would start every week for most