CHERRIES are understood to be pondering a third bid for sought-after Malmo striker Tokelo Rantie.

The 22-year-old is believed to be high on manager Eddie Howe’s wish-list, with Cherries reportedly having had two previous offers rejected by the Swedish club.

Earlier this week, Sky Sports claimed Cherries were one of three clubs to have tabled a bid in excess of one million euro for Rantie with Middlesbrough and St Etienne also in the hunt.

And although Cherries boss Howe never comments on transfer speculation, he has made no secret of his desire to bolster his striking resources and is believed to have missed out on a couple of targets.

Speaking to the Daily Echo earlier this month, Howe said he was aware he was “light in the striking department”, adding that the club was continuing to “look, talk and negotiate” in its bid to bring in new recruits.

Cherries were first linked with South African Rantie after a move for former Norwich striker Simeon Jackson had been hijacked by German outfit Eintracht Braunschweig.

And reports in South Africa last month claimed Cherries’ initial bid of around £250,000 had been rejected by Malmo, where the player is apparently committed to a lengthy contract.

When contacted by the Daily Echo yesterday, Cherries chairman Eddie Mitchell politely declined to comment on the Rantie speculation but did confirm the club was in the market for a striker.

Mitchell added: “I know we are still looking to add to our strike-force. It is about finding the right person, somebody who can add something else.”

Asked whether funds were available to Howe, Mitchell replied: “We wouldn’t be looking if there weren’t. We are not on a time-wasting mission. We are seriously looking and that would indicate there are funds available.”

Meanwhile, Sky Sports have also linked Cherries with a move for American international Terrence Boyd who plays for Rapid Vienna in the Austrian Bundesliga.

The 22-year-old German-born striker joined Rapid for 400,000 euro from Borussia Dortmund 13 months ago and netted 13 times last season and twice this.

Capped at under-20 and under-23 level by his country, Boyd received a glowing reference from former Germany manager Jurgen Klinsmann, now head coach of the US.

In an interview conducted before last year’s Olympics and after Boyd had joined Rapid, Klinsmann said: “Terrence is one of our promising talents that we are trying to develop.

“His work-rate is outstanding and his hunger for finishing chances is tremendous. It is something that we really love to see and that is why we keep working with him and giving him these opportunities.”