CHERRIES owner Bill Foley has issued a warning to clubs circling players at Vitality Stadium – stating that “our door is closed and it’s bolted”.
A resurgence in form in recent weeks has seen Cherries rise up the Premier League table, but even when life was tough initially under new head coach Andoni Iraola, players were being linked with moves elsewhere.
Even a new contract for Dominic Solanke has not quelled rumours, Cherries rejecting an enquiry in the summer from West Ham.
The largest noise surrounds Lloyd Kelly, who is out of contract at the end of this season.
Tottenham Hotspur tried to prise the defender away on August’s deadline day, whilst clubs on the continent and reportedly tracking him.
Foley shared how he hopes to tie Kelly to a new deal amidst severe interest from elsewhere heading into the January window.
He told talkSPORT: “Our door is closed and it's bolted. We're not interested in selling any player.
“If situations arise that we're put in a position where we are compelled to do something because the player really wants to move on, but we were very specific in terms of Philip Billing and Dom (Solanke) and signing them to new, extended contracts.
“We would like to do that with another player. We are meeting with the agent and that would be a big accomplishment if we could keep Lloyd Kelly as he is a key player, is versatile and can play two different positions.
“I like him as an individual. He's a good player, and a good guy. We can just do the best we can and that's what we're going to do."
Foley added to the Guardian: “You can never say never – and we have to be mindful of financial fair play because we can’t just spend all the time and sometimes you have to make an economic decision – but I like our team.
“I’d like to see what this team is like when everyone is available to play from the team we designed last January and last summer.”
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