Friday 12 May 2017 11:53, UK
Eddie Howe does not expect on-loan Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere to return to Bournemouth next season.
The injury-hampered England international joined the club at the start of the campaign to play regular football after uncertainty over his position within Arsene Wenger's squad.
Although Wilshere has received plenty of plaudits for his performances during his spell with the club, Howe admits that a return to the Vitality Stadium in the future is unlikely.
"I think that's going to be really difficult for us," the Cherries manager said ahead of Saturday's game against Burnley.
"When we signed him [Wilshere] on loan, the plan was for him to stay the season and then to go back to Arsenal to evaluate his future."
Wilshere hasn't played for the Cherries since last month's 4-0 defeat at Tottenham, where he suffered a hairline fracture to his left fibula, but has been returning to the club to receive treatment on the injury.
"It was nice to be able to spend time with him, talk with him, and to wish him well for the future."
Howe also confirmed that the club has already started thinking about transfer targets but was reluctant to discuss his plans and refused to comment on speculation linking the club to Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe.
"We've started processes to identify players for next season. But in terms of names, positions etc, I won't be saying any further," Howe added.
Howe also dismissed suggestions that his side would be taking things easy despite already guaranteeing Premier League football next season.
The Cherries currently sit in 11th place in the Premier League table and have already equalled the 42 points they achieved last year during the club's debut season in the top flight.
"We're trying to go as strong as we can, and we want to try and finish as high as possible," he said.
"We try and improve every year, and this year the objective was to improve on our 42 points- we have two games to do that."
