CHERRIES' wantaway striker Jo Kuffour could be heading out of Dean Court after handing in a shock transfer request.

Kuffour, who is midway through a two-year deal, dropped the bombshell on boss Kevin Bond on Friday and could be on his way before the transfer window closes at the end of this month.

The 26-year-old was the subject of a failed bid from Bristol Rovers during the summer, with administrator Gerald Krasner rejecting their offer.

But sources close to the Daily Echo suggest Londoner Kuffour could still be in line for a return to League One, with Southend keen to secure his services.

Reputed to be one of the highest wage earners in the club's history, Kuffour would probably command a fee in the region of £75,000.

He joined Cherries on a free last summer and ended his debut season at Dean Court as the club's 13-goal leading marksman.

Bond told the Daily Echo last night: "I have known all along of Jo's desire to play as high as he can but desire was all it had been until now.

"Things have changed somewhat because the transfer window is closing in less than a fortnight and he probably wants to see if there is anybody out there who would be interested in taking him.

"He has told me that he definitely wants to consider getting somewhere else if he can and, as I've stated on many occasions, I would never want to keep a player against their wishes.

"Having said that though, it would need to be right for us as well so we would have to think about how much somebody might offer for him and also about replacing him."

Kuffour opened his tally for the season during Cherries' Carling Cup defeat by Cardiff and partnered Brett Pitman in attack in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Aldershot Town.

His departure would leave Cherries thin on the ground in the striking department, an area Bond has been desperately trying to bolster in recent weeks.

Bond added: "I've been looking for a striker anyway and, ideally, not a loan player. I'm looking for a player who can be ours and I've been finding it difficult. It may be that we now need to look for two.

"But it's all part and parcel of football and we will get on with it. Jo hasn't gone anywhere yet and I certainly hope he doesn't. We will deal with anything that materialises on a day-to-day basis.

"In the meantime, Jo has absolutely assured me that he is 100 per cent committed to the club and, if I didn't think that was the case, I wouldn't play him. We are also totally committed to him.

"His performance at Aldershot emphasised that and nothing will change on the commitment front from either side until somebody makes an offer that takes him away from us."

  • Cherries will host Bristol Rovers in the first round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy at Dean Court on Tuesday, September 2.