SCOTT Parker described as “vitally important” Cherries midfielder Jefferson Lerma and revealed the club were “in talks” over the Colombian’s long-term future.

Lerma has played 149 games for the Dorset outfit in all competitions, having signed a five-year deal when arriving at the club for a record fee in 2018.

The 27-year-old has featured under Eddie Howe, Jason Tindall, Jonathan Woodgate and latterly Parker during his time in England.

And the club’s head coach insisted he would “definitely” be keen to continue the former Levante man’s stay on the south coast.

Asked whether there had been talks about extending Lerma’s stay at Cherries, Parker told the Daily Echo: “I think there is. We are in talks for that. He is certainly a player we want to try and keep at the club.

“He is valuable to us in terms of everything about him. I think those conversations are happening.”

Quizzed on how much he would like to secure Lerma’s long-term future, Parker replied: “Of course, definitely.

“A player of Jeff’s quality and what he brings as well in terms of that and his qualities, he is vitally important.”

Lerma lined up as a makeshift centre-half for Cherries during their 2-0 victory over Aston Villa last time out, scoring after just two minutes.

He could play as either a defender or in midfield against Manchester City on Saturday.

“He is a warrior-type, Jeff,” said the Cherries boss. “He is a type that when he crosses the line you just know what you are getting.

“As a manager, I just instantly know sometimes about giving over information to Jeff. His English is not great, so sometimes that information is tricky.

“But he’s just a football man. You can just tell he is just football intelligent and also what you do know is when he crosses the line he goes into serious battle mode, where you know what you are going to get.

“There’s just a given with Jeff that whatever happens, through bad touches, bad passes, whatever it is there is just a constant given which you know what he builds his game around really.

“For someone like me sitting in my position, that’s gold dust really. I appreciate that from him.”