Tuesday 12 December 2017 12:44, UK
Eddie Howe admits Bournemouth could consider selling Lewis Grabban in January.
Grabban has been in excellent form for Sunderland this season, after joining them on a season-long loan in August, scoring 11 goals in 17 appearances.
Howe is not short of options in attack with Jermain Defoe, Joshua King, Callum Wilson, Benik Afobe and Lys Mousset all battling it out for playing time and he says that will factor into any decision he makes on Grabban's future.
"With Lewis, we will make the right decision for him and for us," Howe said. "I think it will be something we will sit down and talk about.
"We have got some excellent strikers here. I have got some real options in that position, especially when you consider you have got the quality of Lys Mousset who is out of the squad at the moment.
"That is something for a later date when we will have a chat with Grabbs."
Grabban has had two spells at Bournemouth, scoring 35 goals in 87 appearances between 2012 and 2014 before leaving for Norwich.
Bournemouth then paid £7m to buy him from the Canaries 18 months later.
Grabban struggled to earn regular playing time last season and was loaned to Reading during the second half of the campaign.
The 29-year-old has rediscovered his best form at Sunderland and Howe is pleased to see him doing well.
When asked about Grabban's success this season, Howe replied: "I am not surprised. Lewis is an outstanding player. When we signed him back when we were in the Premier League we paid a substantial fee for him.
"I have worked with him before and really enjoyed that process. The journey we went through together was incredible really.
"He did very well for me in both spells so I have got a lot of time for the player and the person.
"We will make the right decision for the next step in his career."
On Saturday, Defoe provided a timely reminder of the quality of forwards Howe has at his disposal with two goals in a 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace.
Defoe had made a quiet start to his Bournemouth career with his only previous league goal coming against Brighton in September, but Howe believes there is plenty more to come from the England international.
"I am confident we are going to get the best from Jermain. I have always have been since the start of the season," Howe said.
"I always with new players when they come to the football club there is a period of adjustment to what we are asking them to do.
"It is always slightly different wherever you go. Every manager wants something slightly unique.
"But I think his performances have steadily got better and I am delighted to see him on the scoresheet.
"He is a goal scorer and he has got that goal-scoring instinct so he will always want to score.
"His two finishes were excellent on Saturday. I was really pleased for him and hopefully that is just the start."
