Transfer fee could rise to £19m for Levante midfielder
Tuesday 12 June 2018 13:40, UK
Bournemouth are looking to make Levante's Jefferson Lerma their first summer signing after making a £16m bid for the midfielder, according to Sky sources.
Sky Sports News understands that, should the deal go through, the fee could rise to more than £19m once add-ons are taken into account.
Several Bundesliga clubs are believed to be interested in Lerma but they are not willing to pay more than £8.8m, which is what they see as his market value.
Bournemouth look set to pay twice that fee, such is their eagerness to sign the player.
Lerma, who is predominantly a defensive midfielder who can also fill-in at right-back, made 28 appearances for Levante last season as they finished 15th in La Liga.
The 23-year-old moved to Spain in the summer of 2015 from Atletico Huila in his native Colombia.
He is currently in Russia preparing for the World Cup with Colombia, for whom he has five caps since making his debut in November.
Bournemouth have had a quiet summer in the transfer window so far. They are yet to make a signing, and their only business of any kind saw them sell striker Benik Afobe to Wolves.
