Bournemouth to reject January approaches for “important” 28-year-old star loved by Andoni Iraola

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola. (Reuters/Andrew Couldridge)

Bournemouth are determined to hold on to key defender Marcos Senesi this month, despite growing interest from top European clubs.

The Cherries have already seen the departures of Antoine Semenyo and other key players this January, making the Argentine centre-back even more vital to Andoni Iraola’s plans.

According to talkSPORT, Bournemouth have no intention of entertaining offers for Marcos Senesi during the January transfer window.

The 28-year-old has been a mainstay in the Cherries defence since joining from Feyenoord in 2022, making 111 appearances in all competitions, and has started all but one Premier League match this season.

Although Chelsea, Juventus, and Barcelona have all been linked with the centre-back, Bournemouth have not received any formal bids. With his contract expiring this summer, Senesi could theoretically agree a pre-contract with a foreign club, but for now, the club are intent on keeping him at the Vitality Stadium.

Senesi’s importance has grown following a summer overhaul of the defence, with Ilya Zabarnyi and Dean Huijsen both sold to Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid for a combined £104.5 million.

Andoni Iraola has repeatedly described the Argentine as an “important” figure, underlining why Bournemouth are set to resist any mid-season departures.

With the Cherries fighting to maintain Premier League stability, Senesi’s presence will be key in ensuring they stay competitive for the remainder of the campaign.

Barnaby Lane is a highly experienced sports writer who has written for The Times, FourFourTwo Magazine, Sports Illustrated, TalkSPORT, and Business Insider.

Over the years, he's had the pleasure of interviewing some of the biggest names in world sport, including Usain Bolt, Rafael Nadal, Christian Pulisic, and more.