Source: Bournemouth_Echo
Cherries: Howe in no hurry to select replacement striker
EDDIE Howe insists he will select carefully as he attempts to fill the void left by influential striker Brett Pitman.[LNB] Howe is on the look-out for attacking reinforcements after the 22-year-old's Dean Court exit was finalised.[LNB] Bristol City yesterday confirmed the Jerseyman's signing on a three-year contract, ending a Cherries career that saw him net 61 first-team goals.[LNB] Although the fee is undisclosed, reports in the West Country suggest the deal could eventually be worth as much as £800,000. The Echo understands one of City's players could move in the other direction, with Internet rumours linking John Akinde with a Dean Court switch.[LNB] Pitman's move, which comes after he declined an offer from Blackpool, leaves Howe with a sizeable hole to fill in his striking department.[LNB] And he looks set to be patient in his search for recruits, although Lyle Taylor is set to join if the Football League give the deal the green light.[LNB] Howe said: We're looking at our options but we're in no immediate hurry or rush to jump in. We'll try to select, if we do bring anyone in, the right one.[LNB] We'll have to make sure we're careful who we select to add to this group.[LNB] Discussing Pitman, Howe added: I think how he will be judged in our history is he played a huge part last season in leading us to promotion, as part of a fantastic team with great team spirit. I think that will all be remembered fondly.[LNB] From an early age, he was a good finisher but I just think he got better and better. Sometimes, in training, you'd see him and he was unstoppable.[LNB] It was a natural gift that he developed. For a number of years, he's honed his skills and his talents and some of the goals he scored for us were special.[LNB] Hopefully, our fans will remember them for a long time to come.[LNB]
