AFC Bournemouth plot Millwall FC transfer to hijack Crystal Palace deal | OneFootball

Bournemouth are set to join the race to sign a Millwall player this January

Bournemouth are attempting to hijack Crystal Palace’s move to sign Romain Esse from Millwall this January.

According to Football Insider, the Cherries are ready to enter the race to sign the 19-year-old.

Esse’s future has been the subject of speculation throughout the winter window so far, with a departure from Millwall looking likely.

The youngster has contributed four goals and one assist from 24 appearances for the Lions so far this Championship season.

Romain Esse transfer latest

Millwall manager Alex Neil confirmed, via London News Online, last week that Crystal Palace are interested in signing Esse this month.

It was reported on Saturday by Alan Nixon that a £14.5 million agreement between the two clubs was close.

However, Bournemouth are now reportedly planning an offer to compete for the signing of the Millwall star.

It remains to be seen whether they can win the race to his signature given the head start that Palace have had.

Oliver Glasner and Andoni Iralola are both keen to improve their first team squads for the second half of the campaign, particularly with Bournemouth finding themselves in the mix for European qualification.

Esse has a contract with Millwall until the summer of 2026, meaning there is no immediate need for the Championship side to cash in, but this could be the peak of his valuation on this current deal.

Romain Esse’s importance to Millwall

Esse first broke into the Millwall team during the 2022/23 campaign, but really established himself as a regular member of the squad in the following season.

He made 25 appearances last year, including six starts, bagging his first two league goals of his career.

This season he started all 24 of his league appearances, but he missed the team’s FA Cup third round clash with Dagenham & Redbridge due to the speculation over his future.

Next up for Neil’s side is a home fixture against Hull City on 18 January.

Esse will need to think about the best place for his development

Both Palace and Bournemouth have recently made signings from the Championship, including the likes of Antoine Semenyo and Adam Wharton.

Wharton and Semenyo have made that jump up successfully to become key members of their respective clubs, so there is a pathway for Esse there.

However, it is no guarantee that he will make it either, as someone like Jesurun Rak-Sakyi can attest to.

It won’t be an easy decision over which club to move to if both agree a deal with Millwall, but the Lions have done well if they can get a figure close to £15 million for him.