Toulouse Make Second Bid for Max Gradel as Ivorian Eyes Move Away From AFC Bournemouth
Toulouse have stepped up their pursuit of AFC Bournemouth winger Max Gradel by making a second bid for the player.
As reported in the Sun, the French club have offered a deal to take the Ivorian star on loan for a year with an option to buy at the end of the season.
MARBELLA, SPAIN - JULY 15: Max Gradel of AFC Bournemouth (L) being followed by Omar Diakhite of Estoril Praia (R) during a Pre Season Friendly match between AFC Bournemouth and Estoril Praia at the Marbella Football Center on July 15, 2017 in Marbella, Spain. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)
Aitor Alcalde/GettyImages
Interest in the winger has been high this summer, with Sunderland known to have pushed hard for a deal for the the 29-year-old
The Black Cats had a similar loan bid rejected by the Cherries, while there was also interest registered by former club Leeds, where Gradel worked with Simon Grayson before leaving for St Etienne. Hull are another Championship club who have monitored the situation closely, having previously tried to pry the player away in January.
Democratic Republic of the Congo's defender Jordan Ikoko (L) challenges Ivory Coast's forward Max-Alain Gradel during the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations group C football match between Ivory Coast and DR Congo in Oyem on January 20, 2017. / AFP / ISSOUF SANOGO (Photo credit should read ISSOUF SANOGO/AFP/Getty Images)
ISSOUF SANOGO/GettyImages
Gradel's second spell with Bournemouth, which began in 2015, was derailed early by a bad knee injury which kept him out for the first half of the season.
Thereafter, several enthralling cameo displays convinced manager Eddie Howe to award one of his long-time favourites with a new four year deal, which was signed just last summer.
Image by Adam Samuel
Alas, all eleven of his appearances this season came from the bench.
However, while the player is seemingly focused on securing a move abroad, several impressive pre-season displays have lead to suggestions that Howe may re-consider allowing Gradel to leave at all this summer.
