KEVIN Bond has made the addition of a "forward-running" midfielder his top priority during the January transfer window.

Bond is desperate to bolster his squad after losing the services of loan sextet Jem Karacan, James Henry, Scott Golbourne, Alex Pearce, Max Gradel and Jean Francois Christophe.

And although he is keen to bring both Gradel and Christophe back to Dean Court, Bond says he is "not anticipating" any of the Reading youngsters returning.

The Cherries boss also suffered a setback at the weekend when one of his potential targets for the midfield role - Luke Summerfield - lined up for Plymouth in the FA Cup.

Bond today revealed that he had registered his interest in the 20-year-old at the end of last week, only for Summerfield to be drafted in to help Argyle triumph 3-2 against Hull on Saturday.

Summerfield scored once in eight league appearances during a loan spell with Cherries last season and was viewed by Bond as one of the ideal men to fit the bill.

Bond told the Daily Echo: "Luke is an energetic, forward-running midfield player and did well for us when he was here last season.

"Now Max has gone, we haven't got any natural width and we haven't got an abundance of midfield players anyway.

"Shaun Cooper didn't train last week and Darren Anderton isn't fit at the moment so we're short in that department what with losing the two loan lads as well.

"It's an area I'm certainly looking at because I think we need someone who can run forward from a midfield role or break forward from a midfield three.

"We've lost Jem Karacan and he had been doing that for us recently. It was starting to help us and I would like to bring in somebody who can break forward naturally.

"I'm short of bodies in the middle of the park and, if I could do something about that, I would. I'm trying to work on a couple of things, given the limitations I've got to work with."

Discussing the prospect of Gradel and Christophe returning, Bond added: "Max went back to Leicester straight after the Brighton game and I'm trying to get him back. I know they want to have a look at him and I'm not expecting a decision until the end of this week.

"Jean has gone back to Portsmouth to see what the situation is there for him. They've got a few players missing because of the African Cup of Nations and he'd like to see if he could fit into the scheme of things there. I'll have a chat with Harry (Redknapp) this week."

Bond confirmed he had received no bids for any of his players since the transfer window re-opened on New Year's Day.

He said: "It wouldn't surprise me if there was interest but I haven't had any. It wouldn't be ideal if someone were to take one of my players and leave me in a situation where I couldn't do anything about it. But it's all part and parcel of the job, people come and go."