FREE agents in football are the type of frugal deals that excite any football fans, but who can Cherries look to bring in this summer on free transfers?

In recent seasons Cherries have utilised the free agent market to bolster their squad.

During their most recent promotion season from the Championship, Cherries added experience to their ranks on free transfers in the form of defensive duo Gary Cahill and Robbie Brady, the veterans contributing as Scott Parker’s side claimed a second-placed finish.

Goalkeeper Orjan Nyland also arrived on a free, serving as back-up to Mark Travers before being released halfway through the campaign.

After helping Brentford win the play-offs the season before, Emi Marcondes then joined Cherries for free to make it back-to-back promotions to the Premier League.

In the build-up to their Premier League return, Cherries went on to sign two further players after the expiry of their deals elsewhere.

Once again, a free agent bolstered their defensive options, with Ryan Fredericks bringing Premier League experience, whilst Joe Rothwell was picked up from Blackburn Rovers for nothing.

Whilst free transfers do usually incur sign-on fees towards players and their agents, they usually represent cut-price deals in comparison to the modern market.

We have taken a look at players in England and abroad that might tempt Cherries after their contracts run out this summer.

Veteran linked

(Image: PA) Cherries have already been linked to Joel Matip after his release by Liverpool, the 32-year-old a potential option to add experience to the backline.

Injuries blighted the Cameroonian’s time at Anfield, and it remains to be seen whether he will push to become a first-choice starter at his next club.

The centre-back partnership of Illia Zabarnyi and Marcos Senesi feels very settled, so it seems unlikely that Matip would start at Cherries.

However, if the former Schalke man can be convinced to take on a bit-part role, then the deal feels a bit more viable.

There would be shades of Sylvain Distin’s move from Everton back during Cherries’ first Premier League season.

Arriving on a free transfer, Distin was used sparingly but to great effect as Cherries beat the drop.

Of course, Cherries are no longer relegation fodder, but perhaps Matip’s experience of battling for European qualification could help Bournemouth fulfil their ambitions of continental football.

Bargain from the Championship

Callum O'Hare is set to leave Coventry City after the Sky Blues missed out on promotion from the Championship.

It seems likely that O'Hare won't be playing in the second tier next season, with a host of Premier League clubs interested in the midfielder.

Cherries have not been linked directly, but O'Hare will certainly have come up on their radar - especially on a free transfer.

Whilst Cherries have options at the 10, few have particularly stood out aside from Justin Kluivert.

Starlet Alex Scott is yet to establish his best position in the Cherries midfield, whilst Philip Billing is often tasked with seeing out games.

Like Billing and Scott, O'Hare can play slightly deeper, meaning he would offer extra depth, but the former Aston Villa man is far more suited to playing further forward, behind the strikers.

As Marcus Tavernier, Scott, and Antoine Semenyo have shown, players proven in the Championship can be more than effective for Cherries in the Premier League.

Left-backs

With the departure of Lloyd Kelly on a free transfer, Cherries will likely be looking to reinforce their backline.

Kelly offered depth at two positions, left-back and centre-half, but it seems that the former will be the higher priority on Cherries’ shopping list this summer.

There are a few left-backs out of contract with varying degrees of Premier League experience.

Ryan Sessegnon departs Tottenham Hotspur after a torrid time with injuries, with the attacking wing-back once one of England’s highly touted prospects during his time at Fulham.

With age on his side, Cherries could be tempted to draft in Sessegnon as an alternative to Milos Kerkez, with both players attack-minded and keen to get forward whenever possible.

However, they have been burnt by injury-prone players and as such, could look for a more reliable option.

Max Lowe leaves Sheffield United with little fanfare about his next move; the 27-year-old is another to have struggled with injuries.

After the Blades set a new record for most goals conceded in a Premier League season it is perhaps no surprise that teams are not interested in their defenders.

However, Lowe operating as a deputy to Kerkez could prove cost-efficient.

Charlie Taylor has been offered a new deal at Burnley, the 30-year-old’s current contract expiring at the end of this season.

The former Leeds United man has been with the Clarets for seven seasons, but it remains to be seen if he will sign up for another year in the second tier.

With 161 games in the Premier League, Taylor knows the division inside and out, and as he approaches the tail end of his career, could be tempted by a back-up role to Kerkez at left-back.

Players on the continent

The chance to add a Barcelona academy graduate to the ranks for nothing would not be sniffed at, with 24-year-old Juan Miranda’s contract at La Liga outfit Real Betis expiring this summer.

Despite reports that the left-back had signed a pre-contract agreement with AC Milan there has been no confirmation of Miranda’s future, with reports in Spain still linking him to a plethora of clubs across Europe.

Andoni Iraola’s stock has risen thanks to his first season in England, but back in Spain he was already highly regarded and as such, Miranda will likely be encouraged by the chance to work with his fellow countryman.

This season for Real Betis, Miranda has displayed a direct passing approach which would suit Iraola’s style of play, the defender keen to get the ball forward with passes rather than driving up the pitch via dribbling.

With Miranda at a stage of his career where he can boast both potential and experience, there will likely be a host of clubs queuing up for his signature.

Cherries might not be able to offer the Spaniard guaranteed football, and that is probably what Miranda will be looking for, having played just 53 per cent of Real Betis’ La Liga fixtures in the past four seasons.

On top of that, Miranda has grown accustomed to featuring in Europe with Real Betis, with Cherries currently unable to offer continental football.

(Image: UEFA Media Portal)

Gaetano Castrovilli is a name familiar to Cherries supporters, with the club close to bringing the Italian midfielder over to England last summer.

However, a medical highlighted an issue in Castrovilli’s knee, torpedoing the move and causing the 27-year-old to undergo surgery.

The four-time Italy international made his return right at the end of Fiorentina’s season, but was consigned to just Serie A action as he was left out of the Italian team’s run to the final of the Europa Conference League.

Now out of contract, Cherries could resurrect a deal to sign Castrovilli as a free agent, but of course there will be doubts over the Italian’s injury issues.

Speaking after the move collapsed, Iraola felt that Castrovilli would have given Cherries depth in the number eight role, which was entrusted to Ryan Christie all last term.

Whilst Castrovilli might not be an automatic starter if he were to join, in order for Cherries to keep climbing the league table, they will need quality throughout the squad.