Bournemouth are making a remarkable £18million bid for Levante’s Colombia star Jefferson Lerma.
Boss Eddie Howe has set up the move and hopes to agree the fee with the Spanish side ahead of finalising the transfer while the player is in Russia.Versatile Lerma, 23, would add muscle to the Cherries side and give Howe’s team more power.
He has played in Spain for the last three seasons and Levante seem certain to accept the bid despite rival interest in La Liga and the Bundesliga.
The strong running and tackling star was left out of the Levante side towards the end of the season as the club fielded offers. However insiders say Bournemouth’s bid is the best.
Lerma has just broken into the Colombia national side but he will be eligible for a work permit, partly because of the cost of the transfer.