Bournemouth sign Adrien Truffert, paving way for Liverpool target Kerkez to leave

Bournemouth have signed the France left-back Adrien Truffert from Rennes on a five-year contract. The 23-year-old’s arrival paves the way for Milos Kerkez, a Liverpool target, to leave.

Truffert, who captained Rennes, told Bournemouth’s website: “It’s a dream for any player to play in the Premier League. It’s one of the best and most competitive leagues in the world. I’m looking forward to testing myself at this level, facing top players every week and helping the team achieve great things.”

Truffert, born in Belgium, won his sole France cap as a substitute in a 2-0 Nations League defeat to Denmark in September 2022. He played for France at the 2024 Olympics, helping them to finish as runners-up, and scored nine goals in 191 appearances for Rennes.

The deal was announced on the day the transfer window reopened after an earlier Club World Cup-related opportunity to make signings. The window will close on Monday 1 September.

Leeds fear that Jaka Bijol’s mooted move to Elland Road could be hijacked. The 26-year-old Udinese and Slovenia centre-half is very close to signing for Daniel Farke’s promoted team but late interest from rivals, notably Newcastle and Milan, may place that £17m deal in peril.

Bijol, though predominantly right-sided, is two-footed and has the sort of high-calibre passing range that betrays his origins as a defensive midfielder. Throw in his aerial ability and controlled aggression and it is easy to understand why the former CSKA Moscow player, who faced England at Euro 2024, is so admired by Farke.

Eddie Howe, Newcastle’s manager is also seeking a right-sided, ball-playing central defender to compete for that berth with Fabian Schär. Howe’s principal target is Crystal Palace’s Marc Guéhi but the England centre-half could prove out of reach.

Newcastle hope to sign the Brighton forward João Pedro and the Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford but both potential transfers could prove complicated and will not come cheap.

Farke has signed Lukas Nmecha, the 26-year-old former Germany forward, on a free transfer from Wolfsburg, but Howe is waiting to welcome a new face.

Crystal Palace are poised to announce the signing of Walter Benítez on a free transfer after the Argentina goalkeeper completed his medical. The 32-year-old was out of contract at PSV after helping them to win the Eredivisie title in his third season and will compete with Dean Henderson to be No 1 at Selhurst Park.

Matt Turner was back-up to the England international last season after signing on loan from Nottingham Forest and is expected to join Lyon in a permanent deal. Benítez, who played more than 150 games for Nice before joining PSV, won his first senior cap last year.