Bournemouth to bid £15m transfer fee for Brentford ace Chris Mepham ahead of Southampton

BOURNEMOUTH are set to bid £15m transfer fee for Brentford ace Chris Mepham as they look to land the young defender ahead of Southampton.

Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe wants a centre-back to complete his January spending after landing Dominic Solanke and Nathaniel Clyne early in the window.

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Brentford defender Mepham is a long-term target and Howe failed with a £10million summer bid for the 21-year-old Wales international.

But he will move for him again and launch a £15million raid to get him ahead of south-coast rivals Southampton, who are also interested in Bees forward Ollie Watkins.

Mepham has been out injured for three weeks but Howe remained interested in landing him this month.

Solanke was also signed while injured but new signings are given time to settle under Howe in any circumstances.

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Promising Mepham broke into the Bees' first-team last season and played 23 times in all competitions.

He has already racked up more appearances in 2018-19 and Brentford know he is central in their bid to avoid slipping into the relegation zone.

Mepham is seen as an ideal Howe signing with the potential to become a top Premier League defender after impressing in the Championship.