Bournemouth are pushing to add a new striker to their squad this summer, with the Vitality Stadium club in active talks to sign Alvaro Rodriguez from Elche for an initial fee in the region of £18m. Structured add-ons could take the total value of the deal up to £25m, and the 21-year-old is being lined up for a five-year contract on the south coast — though those close to the negotiations are keen to stress that talks are still ongoing and nothing has been finalised.

Rodriguez made 34 La Liga appearances for Elche last season, chipping in with seven goals and five assists. At 21, he has the profile Bournemouth's recruitment team tend to favour: a young player with proven top-flight minutes who carries room to develop further. He is a Uruguay youth international but is also eligible to represent Spain, which adds an interesting dimension to his longer-term international future.

There is an additional layer to this deal worth noting. Real Madrid sold Rodriguez to Elche last summer and retain a 50% sell-on clause, meaning the Spanish giants stand to benefit considerably if the transfer goes through at anything close to the reported figures. It is a reminder of just how much the modern transfer market filters money back up the chain, even when a deal looks, on the surface, like a fairly straightforward Championship-to-Premier League hop in reverse.

Filling the gap up front

Bournemouth's need for attacking reinforcement is clear. The club enjoyed a record Premier League finish under Andoni Iraola, qualifying for the Europa League — a remarkable achievement — but Iraola has since departed to take charge at Liverpool, with Marco Rose, who built his reputation at RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund, stepping in as his successor. Rose will want the squad shaped to his liking before the season begins.

Evanilson remains the Cherries' main striker, and Rodriguez would provide genuine competition and cover rather than simply a squad number. The club are also open to moving Enes Unal on if the right offer arrives for the Turkey international, which suggests there is an appetite to reshape the forward line with fresh energy.

Stability the aim after a turbulent summer last year

Bournemouth's recruitment department are reportedly determined to avoid a repeat of last summer, when three members of their first-choice back four and their starting goalkeeper all left in quick succession. That kind of upheaval tested the squad's depth and left little margin for error. A more measured, proactive approach this time around appears to be the goal — bringing players in early rather than scrambling to replace those who have gone.

Elsewhere, the club are working to keep hold of their most coveted assets. Midfielder Alex Scott has attracted reported interest from Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United, with the player understood to be valued at around £80m. However, Bournemouth insist he is not available and are hopeful he will commit to improved terms. The club would like any new deal to include a mechanism similar to the agreement that preceded Antoine Semenyo's move to Manchester City for around £65m in January — a pre-agreed future release structure designed to give both parties clarity.

For now, though, Rodriguez is the headline business. If the deal gets over the line, it would signal that Bournemouth's ambitions in Europe are backed by genuine investment — and that Marco Rose has had a significant say in building the side he wants.

Frequently asked

How much are Bournemouth paying for Alvaro Rodriguez?
Bournemouth are in talks to sign Rodriguez for an initial fee of around £18m, with add-ons that could take the total to £25m.
Why do Real Madrid get money from the Alvaro Rodriguez transfer?
Real Madrid sold Rodriguez to Elche last summer and retained a 50% sell-on clause, meaning they are entitled to half of any future transfer fee Elche receive for the player.
Who is Bournemouth's new manager after Andoni Iraola left?
Marco Rose, previously manager of RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund, has taken over at Bournemouth following Iraola's departure to become Liverpool manager.