There is some confusion over whether Steve Cook is out of contract at Bournemouth this summer.
The defender has been tipped for a move to Celtic if Eddie Howe is appointed manager but a tweet from Kris Temple at the start of March claimed that a ‘behind the scenes’ contract extension with Bournemouth had been signed. Temple is the stadium announcer at Wembley and will perform that task at the Olympics Athletic events. He has also provided live broadcasts for the BBC for 17 years.
Whoever becomes Celtic manager has a massive rebuilding job to get on with, starting in central defensive would seem a logical step with Kris Ajer expected to leave and Chris Jullien not likely to be available until September after undergoing knee surgery.
Announcing Celtic’s interest, assuming Howe takes the manager’s job, The Sun reports:
And the 29-year-old, approaching 400 games for Bournemouth over ten years, will be available on a free as his contract is up in June.
The unflinching Cook was linked with West Ham last October but stayed put as the Cherries try to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking. They are currently just outside the Championship play-off zone.
In May 2017 the Bournemouth website announced:
AFC Bournemouth defender Steve Cook has signed a new long-term contract. The 26-year-old centre-back has put pen to paper on a four-year deal, which will keep him at Vitality Stadium until the summer of 2021.
Cook arrived in Bournemouth from Brighton and Hove Albion in September 2011, initially on loan, and made the switch permanent four months later.
A month ago BBC reporter Temple made things a little more confusing.
? Had questions recently on #AFCB contracts expiring.
? S Cook & A Begovic are *not* out of contract this summer. Both previously signed extensions behind the scenes.
?J Stanislas & A Smith are the two permanent players in the final year of their deals (+ N Ofoborh).
— Kris Temple (@kristemple) March 1, 2021
Why a contract extension would be signed and not announced is confusing. It could well be agreed with one or two details still to be confirmed. If Bournemouth return to the EPL next season their outlook will be very different compared to a second season in the Championship helped by parachute payments.
Howe has clearly been a mentor through Cook’s career, with his former boss expected to return to management and being a free agent this summer the defender could be in a very fortunate situation of being able to join up again without any fee being involved.
At this stage it is all speculation until Howe is announced as Celtic manager or not. Bringing in a 30-year-old that he has worked with for the best part of a decade on a free transfer would seem very logical but as a free agent Cook is almost certain to have other offers from English clubs.
CLICK HERE for Cook’s Transfermarkt profile
