Sources: Bournemouth agree to sign Chris Francis
Bournemouth are poised to sign non-league defender Chris Francis, Football Insider can reveal.
The Championship club have reached an agreement to sign the left-back, who can also play centre-back, and are set to offer him a 12-month deal with the option of a further year.
A Bournemouth source has told Football Insider that Francis, 19, is already training with the club’s first team as they put the finishing touches to a deal.
Francis caught the eye of Bournemouth scouts while playing for Southern League Division One Central side North Leigh FC.
The teenage defender joined the Oxfordshire outfit last August.
He made his debut on the day he joined, featuring as a substitute against Kempston Rovers.
His full debut came just days, starting in a 2-1 win over Barton Rovers.
He has remained a mainstay for North Leigh as they push for a top-six finish in their division.
Despite his regular game time, Francis had to wait until January to score his first goal for the club.
His performances caught the eye of scouts across the Football League, including Bournemouth.
The Cherries have moved swiftly to agree a deal to sign the versatile defender.
He is already training with the senior side at Dean Court and is set to commit himself to a year-long deal.
Scott Parker’s men are currently pushing for promotion from the Championship and sit second in the table.
They are 10 points behind table-toppers Fulham but have a game in hand over the Cottagers.
Huddersfield are four points behind the Cherries, having played two games more than the south coast outfit.
In other news, Fulham star set to quadruple his money after £7million-plus transfer terms agreed.