WANTAWAY Cherries star Rhoys Wiggins has been told he can join the Dean Court exodus – providing the price is right.
Wiggins’s agent Darryl Powell claims Cherries have said they would not stand in the way of the player should an acceptable offer be forthcoming.
Speaking to the Daily Echo with his client’s permission, Powell, the former Derby and Portsmouth star, said he hoped Cherries would not price Wiggins out of a move.
Wiggins, who joined Cherries from Norwich for around £35,000 a year ago, has been the subject of failed bids from both Watford and Charlton recently.
Powell said: “Rhoys came to Bournemouth to invigorate himself and kick-start his career. He has enjoyed his time but, like any other young player, wants to play as high a level as he can.
“Watford made an offer for him in the January transfer window but Bournemouth were chasing promotion and, understandably, were not prepared to sell him at that time. In all honesty, Rhoys could understand that, even though he was disappointed. At the time, Bournemouth were fighting for promotion and the players, including Rhoys, gave their all but it just didn’t happen for them.
“The summer is here now and offers are coming in for Rhoys. I know Charlton had a couple of bids turned down and I understand Watford have been in talks with Bournemouth. I’ve been told by the club that they are not looking to stand in his way. They want to get what they believe is the right compensation and then allow him to move on.
“I think Rhoys has been a good investment for Bournemouth. He has done well for the club and they have done well by him. Hopefully, they can reach an agreement that works for all parties.”
Powell said the sale of several key players during the season had heightened Wiggins’s desire to request a transfer in January, news of which came out in March.
“I can understand the club having aspirations to kick on and they had an exceptional group but have lost a lot of players,” added Powell.
“They achieved more than clubs with far bigger budgets and it was nothing short of a miracle. I think it will be very difficult to repeat that, especially with the players they have lost.
“As a young player, you want to play for the biggest and best club possible. It is a short career and Rhoys wants to progress.”
Cherries chairman Eddie Mitchell said: “We don’t want him to go but he seems very insistent that he is looking to move.
“At this moment in time, he’s contracted to us and we want to keep him, so somebody is going to have to offer what we need.
“If he were to go, we would have to find a replacement, so it would have to be a sum with which we could find somebody as good or better.”
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