Bournemouth hold talks with Lorient in effort to sign Burkina Faso winger Dango Ouattara

Bournemouth have opened talks with Lorient over winger Dango Ouattara, 20, as they look to head off competition from rival clubs. 

The Cherries sit one point above the relegation zone in 16th ahead of Saturday’s trip to Brentford, and manager Gary O’Neil is keen to bolster his squad with more attacking options ahead of their fight for Premier League survival.

Leicester and Everton have also reportedly expressed interest in the Burkina Faso international. 

Bournemouth are in talks to sign Lorient and Burkina Faso star Dango Ouattara (C) in January

Gary O’Neil is eager to bolster his attacking options ahead of Bournemouth’s relegation fight

According to reports in France, Cherries owner Bill Foley has entered discussions to take over Lorient, keen to add the Ligue 1 club to his portfolio of assets. 

Foley’s intended takeover will only benefit Bournemouth in their pursuit of Ouattara, who has scored five goals in 11 international appearances for Burkina Faso.

The 20-year-old has chalked up five goals and five assists in 16 games for Lorient so far this campaign, contributing greatly to his side’s strong start to the season.

Ouattara (R) pictured carrying out a crunching challenge on PSG superstar Kylian Mbappe (L)

Lorient sit sixth in the French top flight with nine wins from 17 matches, two points behind Monaco in fifth and three behind Rennes in fourth.

When asked about Bournemouth’s transfer strategy during the January transfer window last week, O’Neil said: ‘There are a few positions in the squad that I would like to strengthen. I think attacking threat is definitely one of them.’

The newly-promoted outfit now only have the Premier League to focus on before the end of the season, having crashed out of the FA Cup with a 4-2 defeat against Burnley on Saturday.