Exclusive – NUFC now in for Bournemouth midfielder – Cardiff, Stoke & Boro also keen – Report

According to an exclusive from The Sun’s Tom Barclay, Newcastle are one of several clubs keen to sign unsettled Bournemouth midfielder Harry Arter.

With the Cherries having confirmed the £25m signing of Colombia international midfielder Jefferson Lerma, Arter looks set unlikely to feature in Eddie Howe’s plans next season – and it looks like he wants out in a bid to earn some regular first-team football.

The Sun claim that both ourselves, Cardiff, Stoke and Middlesbrough are now interested in the 28-year old, stating that it would take an offer of ‘over £10m’ to see Bournemouth sell (a price I struggle to see us paying unless Hayden is allowed to leave in the next 24 hours).

Nevertheless, here’s a snippet from The Sun’s ‘exclusive’ piece:

‘Midfielder Arter, 28, is open to leaving the Cherries in search of first-team football.

‘The likelihood of that happening under Eddie Howe this term have been heavily reduced following the club-record signing of Jefferson Lerma.

‘Neil Warnock wants to strengthen his midfield and likes the look of the Republic of Ireland international.

‘But he faces competition from Newcastle, Stoke and Middlesbrough.

‘SunSport understands that any team would have to pay over £10million to snare Arter.’

EXCLUSIVE: Cardiff to battle Newcastle and Championship duo to land Bournemouth's Harry Arter | @TomBarclay_ https://t.co/FT8UOG0LH9 pic.twitter.com/xibbA4fSR6

— The Sun – Newcastle (@SunNewcastle) August 7, 2018

The only way I see this happening is if Isaac Hayden is allowed to leave over the next two days following his transfer request – and even then I find it unlikely.

Arter clearly wants to move to play first-team football and, even though he’s a tidy player with impressive energy and work rate, I really don’t see a world where he gets in Rafa’s side ahead of Shelvey, Ki or Diame.

Time will tell if there’s anything in this, but I’d be surprised if this as a big target of Benitez’s with a left-back, a number 10 and a centre-back surely a priority instead.

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