AFC Bournemouth have agreed a deal to bring see one-time Manchester City striker Enes Unal back to the Premier League from La Liga outfit Getafe.
EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey
HITC Football understands that, with the January window closing today, Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth outfit are looking to bring in another centre-forward to ease the pressure on top scorer Dominic Solanke.
And The Cherries appear to have settled on Enes Unal.
Bournemouth agree deal to sign Getafe striker Enes Unal
The Turkey international, who will be known to Iraola following his time in the Rayo Vallecano dugout, only recently returned following a long spell on the sidelines with an anterior cruciate ligament injury. The powerful, stylish Unal has proven himself to be a prolific goalscorer in the recent past, however. He scored 15 goals for Getafe last season and netted 16 the year before. Unal’s his knuckleball technique striking fear into the heart of many La Liga glovesmen.
HITC has been told that Bournemouth, given Unal’s injury history, want to sign the 26-year-old on loan initially, albeit with a view to a permanent transfer. Should he arrive – and he likely will with Bournemouth having agreed a deal with Getafe – that may open the door for Kieffer Moore to depart.
The Welsh targetman has played only 100 minutes of Premier League football since Iraola replaced Gary O’Neil. Moore, we understand, is set to join promotion-chasing Ipswich Town.
31 goals in the last two seasons
Unal, meanwhile, spent two years as a Manchester City player between 2015 and 2017, before joining Villarreal for £12 million. Having failed to make a single first-team appearance under Manuel Pellegrini or Pep Guardiola, however, he may feel as if he has unfinished business on English soil.
“Enes is good,” Brazil and La Liga legend Ronaldo said of Unal a few years ago. “Very good.”
HITC has been told that a permanent deal for Unal could eventually set Bournemouth back £14 million.
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