Bournemouth want Steve Cook to stay until the end of the season but BBC reporter Kris Temple says the club wouldn’t stand in his way if he wanted to leave, amid interest from all of Newcastle United, Watford and QPR.
Cook, 30, has been linked with a host of clubs ahead of January.
Former Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe has been tipped to bring the centre-back to Newcastle United whilst fresh reports yesterday credited both Watford and QPR with an interest.
Cook is out of contract at the end of the season and Football Insider have said that the Cherries would consider selling him for a cut price next month.
But Temple has now revealed that Bournemouth do in fact want Cook to stick around until the end of his contract, but that they wouldn’t stand in the way of his potential departure next month.
He tweeted yesterday:
🍒 With the good news about football continuing, here’s some #AFCB nuggets on personnel & Jan window:
• The club want Steve Cook to stay until end of contract/season, but not currently offering new deal. SC attracting Champ interest, and #AFCB wouldn’t stand in his way. (1/3)
— Kris Temple (@kristemple) December 20, 2021
This could be good news for the likes of Newcastle, Watford and QPR then.
Cook is a fine player but he’s being wasted at Bournemouth as it stands, with Parker only handing him three Championship appearances all season after struggles with injury.
But he remains someone with valuable experience both in the Premier League and the Championship and for any of the linked clubs, with Newcastle and Watford fending off relegation from the top flight and QPR looking for promotion from the Championship, Cook would be a keen addition.
It might be a case of clubs putting their money where their mouth is after Temple’s recent revelation on Cook and Bournemouth.
