Atsu in talks with Bournemouth

Chelsea winger Christian Atsu is wanted by newly-promoted AFC Bournemouth following the end of his loan stay at Everton.

The Ghana star endured a disappointing campaign on loan at Goodison Park, but still has admirers in the Premier League, with Cherries boss Eddie Howe reportedly keen to bring the wideman to Dean Court.

Sky Sports report that Atsu and Bournemouth are already in talks about a possible loan move which would see the winger move to the South coast for the season.

The 23-year-old has just come to the end of a season-long stint with the Toffees, during which he did little to further his claims for a first-team place at Stamford Bridge next season. He is under contract at Chelsea until 2018, meaning that the Pensioners are under no immediate pressure to make a decision concerning his long-term future.

He arrived in West London ahead of the 2013-14 campaign, but like so many young talents brought to Chelsea, it was clear that there was no role for him in the first team.

He spent last season on loan in the Eredivisie at Vitesse Arnhem, before returning to England last summer for a term on Merseyside.

The experience was intended to prepare Atsu for life in the Premier League, but he ended up playing in only five EPL matches with the Blues—starting only one. A recent survey in a local paper indicated that the overwhelming majority of respondents didn’t want Atsu at Goodison Park next season, while the player himself drew a line under his disappointing experience under Roberto Martinez by apologising to the club's fans on Twitter on Wednesday.

Bournemouth, who were expected to be among the strugglers in the Championship last term, ultimately won the title under managerial wonderkid Howe. The south-coast side have never before been in the top tier of English football, and will likely be keen to bolster their squad ahead of an unlikely, but inevitably taxing, campaign.