Player-manager bond can be 'huge factor' in transfers

Positive relationships between players and managers can be a "huge factor" in transfer decisions, former Bournemouth defender Joe Partington has said.

Southampton have made an offer of about £6m for Bournemouth right-back Max Aarons, 24, which the Cherries are expected to reject.

Aarons, who made 20 Premier League appearances for Bournemouth in 2023-24 after joining from Norwich last summer, was coming through the ranks at Carrow Road during the tail end of Saints boss Russell Martin's long stint playing for the Canaries.

Partington told BBC Radio Solent: "[Aarons] is not a Bournemouth boy, he didn't grow up in the area or support the club - but he might have an emotional attachment to the [Southampton] manager.

"Looking in at Southampton, you see a manager who seems to have a great relationship with most of his players.

"If you asked [Aarons] - I'm sure he won't be asked until he either stays or goes - if his relationship with the management is a factor, I'm sure he would say that it is.

"In years gone by, Harry Redknapp took similar players with him everywhere he went and there's a really good reason for that.

"Players are no different, they like a relationship with a manager to be positive. If they find that, it's something they can often want to replicate or reignite if they've lost that. It's certainly a huge factor in terms of moving clubs."

It is unclear if Saints would be willing to raise their bid should Bournemouth dismiss the initial offer.

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds