Bournemouth have decided to release alleged Celtic target Jordon Ibe on July 1 even if the Premier League season is not complete in six weeks, according to Sky Sports.
We can safely assume then that a former Liverpool starlet who once set the Cherries back a club-record £16 million has probably played his final game for Eddie Howe.
Bournemouth are in the midst of a gruelling relegation battle, but Ibe has still found himself frozen completely out of the first-team picture at the Vitality Stadium.
The 24-year-old hasn’t featured since August and has been included in a match-day squad for just one of his side’s last 23 matches.
In perhaps the biggest blow of all to Ibe’s reputation, Sky claims that he will depart through the back door when his contract expires on July 1 – even if the campaign is still underway.
The one-time Anfield prospect looked the real deal during his formative years under Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool, even outshining Raheem Sterling for a spell.
Although Rodgers is no longer at the helm at Celtic, replaced by Neil Lennon a year ago, the Scottish Premiership champions are reportedly open to offering this waylaid talent a fresh start north of the border (The Sun).
Ibe, who earns £40,000-a-week at Bournemouth, was arguably at his best in a wing-back role at Liverpool, where his searing pace could be utilised on the overlap. With Lennon introducing a 3-5-2 system at Celtic since the turn of the year, he might fit into the Hoops boss’s plans quite nicely.
Especially as Hatem Abd Elhamed, James Forrest and co are not exactly natural wing-backs.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
