Bournemouth fear their hopes of keeping hold of Ryan Fraser beyond this summer are fading.
Winger Fraser has been Bournemouth's standout player this season. He has been involved in 21 league goals, scoring seven and setting up 14, including Nathan Ake's winner against Tottenham on Saturday.
Only Chelsea's Eden Hazard, with 15, has set up more goals than Fraser in Europe's top five leagues.
The Cherries are desperate to retain the diminutive Scot, their supporters' Player of the Year for this season, who will enter the final year of his contract in the summer, but Fraser has so far rebuffed their attempts to tie him down to a new contract.
Although Bournemouth still have not given up all hope of changing his mind, behind the scenes they are increasingly resigned to losing Fraser and being forced to cash in during the next transfer window rather than him leaving on a free at the end of next season.
At 25 and off the back of his best ever campaign Fraser feels this summer is the time for a new challenge.
Arsenal are keen on Fraser who has also been monitored by Tottenham, Chelsea and Newcastle.
On Fraser's future, manager Eddie Howe said: 'We would sign Ryan to a new contract tomorrow but that's obviously a two-way process.
'The only thing I would say is he is under contract next season. I have no intention of breaking this team up. That's my wish. I want to add the other way and continue to improve us.'
Worldmend
0
I don't care what any of our arrogant fans say he is ten times better than Iwobi and Mikhi who has went backwards at a frightening rate. Watching Iwobi coming on against Brighton and not being able to make simple 6 yard passes or get the ball beyond the first defender was embarrassing and even worse than that jay it was exactly what I expect from him now. We need two Wingers, a mobile ball playing replacement for Xhaka,who was disgustingly bad again on Sunday, and as ever we need a world class centre half. Zaha, Fraser, and someone like Stephen Nzonzi would do for now.
A man said Nzonzi and you wonder why we're in the state we are. While Fraser maybe better than Mkhi and Iwobi that doesn't mean he should be good enough to start for us. We should be going out for Zaha and Nicolas Pepe.
literary
21
I don't care what any of our arrogant fans say he is ten times better than Iwobi and Mikhi who has went backwards at a frightening rate. Watching Iwobi coming on against Brighton and not being able to make simple 6 yard passes or get the ball beyond the first defender was embarrassing and even worse than that jay it was exactly what I expect from him now. We need two Wingers, a mobile ball playing replacement for Xhaka,who was disgustingly bad again on Sunday, and as ever we need a world class centre half. Zaha, Fraser, and someone like Stephen Nzonzi would do for now.
Starkkan
0
Should have got him for £500k from Aberdeen like Bournemouth did, he was impressive there. Too distracted scouting players around the planet to look in their own back yard.