‘Go with my best wishes’: Manager won’t stop reported £15m Aston Villa and Everton target from leaving

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Bournemouth boss Jason Tindall will not stand in Josh King’s way if the reported Aston Villa, Fulham and Everton target is offered a return to the Premier League, he told the Bournemouth Echo today.

The Cherries might have to adapt to life back in the Championship without Callum Wilson, Aaron Ramsdale and Nathan Ake. But, as it stands, it feels increasingly likely that their long-serving Norwegian will be sticking around to take on the Lutons and the Barnsleys of the world.

The Sun (13 September, page 61) reports that King has no shortage of suitors with Aston Villa, Fulham, Everton and Tottenham Hotspur all keen to bring the versatile forward back to the top flight.

While Tindall has admitted that King can leave if an acceptable offer arrives, time is not exactly on the 28-year-old’s side, with just a few weeks of the transfer window remaining and those interested parties seemingly focusing their efforts elsewhere for the time being.

“He knows that unless something changes in terms of if the club do receive an offer that’s acceptable and he moves on, he will go with my best wishes,” says Eddie Howe’s replacement after holding ‘very professional’ talks with King prior to Saturday’s clash with Middlesbrough.

“Because any player that can play at the highest level, especially when you come into the latter part of your career is a great thing.

“But he also knows if that doesn’t happen, he’s fully committed to the football club. Until someone tells me otherwise, I’m absolutely delighted to have a player like Josh King available to me.”

The door to Villa Park appears to have slammed shut for King, who famously came oh-so close to a dream return to Manchester United back in January.

Bertrand Traore is expected to arrive from Lyon instead, while Werder Bremen’s sporting director also confirmed Villa’s interest in £18 million-rated speed-machine Milot Rashica (BuliNews).

Tottenham and Fulham are also prioritising other areas of the pitch at present while Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti said in midweek that there is only one more signing required at Goodison Park.

The Italian wants a centre-back – not a centre-forward.