Bournemouth of England boss, Eddie Howe has admitted he is worried and disappointed that the club’s Nigerian-born winger, Jordon Ibe failed to succeed with the team, and now has to be shipped out at the end of June, megasportsarena.com reports.
The Cherries’ gaffer said he was sad to announce that Ibe will not join in training with the first team ahead of the restart of action in the English Premier League, as the former Liverpool lad is already confirmed for the exit door at the expiration of his contract this month.
Despite his impending exit at Bournemouth, Celtic of Scotland have already expressed interest in signing Ibe in the upcoming transfer window, and the Scottish Premiership champions will not have to pay a transfer fee, as his contract expires at the end of the month and he has not been offered a new deal, much to Howe’s consternation.
It is a dramatic downturn for Ibe, who former Sunderland striker, Kevin Phillips noted showed better form during his days at Liverpool but dropped in level with The Cherries and will now count on a move to Celtic to put his career back on track.
Prior to his record move to Bournemouth in 2016, Ibe played 58 games for European champions Liverpool, but he has faced an implosion this season, having been involved in only four games in all competitions due to problems with injuries and loss of form.
Consequently, Ibe will play no further part in The Cherries’ bid to escape the drop, but they will pay the 24-year-old’s £38,000-a-week wages until his contract expires on June 30, but Howe is not so comfortable with the fact that the winger will not be offered a new deal.
Howe told The Sun: “Yes, he’s not training with us and he hasn’t for some time; but when a player doesn’t fulfill his potential under my management it doesn’t sit comfortably. His contract expires at the end of June and we are not going to offer him a new deal. I have no regrets signing him and I’m not going to sit here and criticise anybody.
“For Jordon there is the sadness from my side because it just didn’t quite happen for him on a consistent basis. I’ve said many times the talent is in the lad, he is outstanding physically and technically. I hope Jordon goes on and has the career his ability should allow him to have. And no one will be more pleased than me to see him deliver what I know he can.”
