Bournemouth Agrees €17m Deal for Rennes Defender Adrien Truffert

Bournemouth is close to signing French left-back Adrien Truffert from Stade Rennais for a fee of up to €17 million, marking their first major transfer this summer as they prepare to replace Milos Kerkez, who is expected to join Liverpool. The 23-year-old Truffert, who has been a consistent performer in Ligue 1 with Rennes, is valued for his defensive contributions and potential, having made 191 appearances and scored nine goals for the club. However, Aston Villa has shown interest in hijacking the transfer, with manager Unai Emery seeking to strengthen his defense and reportedly ready to match Bournemouth's offer, contingent on player sales to comply with Premier League squad rules. Despite Villa's pursuit, Bournemouth appears to have an agreement in place, with Truffert set to travel to England for a medical. The competition for Truffert underscores the significance both clubs place on bolstering their squads ahead of the new Premier League season. Meanwhile, Aston Villa also targets other reinforcements, including a potential striker from Porto, as they aim to improve after missing out on Champions League qualification.