Julian Araujo is reportedly set to stay at Bournemouth and fight for a place in the squad.
Unfancied under Andoni Iraola last season, the defender was sent on loan to Celtic for the second half of the campaign.
Araujo became an unlikely fan-favourite at Celtic, but a cruel quad injury put an end to his spell after just 13 appearances.
Now back for pre-season with the Cherries, reports in Mexico are saying that he is likely to stay and fight under new boss Marco Rose.
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Julian Araujo set for Bournemouth fight as Cruz Azul look elsewhere
According to Mexican journalist Julio Rodriguez “everything is now pointing” towards Araujo staying at Bournemouth this season.
He played 20 minutes in their friendly win over St Pauli on Friday.
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Cruz Azul had also reportedly been pursuing Araujo, but reports in Mexico are now saying that they are in advanced talks to sign right-back Francisco Nevarez from FC Juarez instead.
Bournemouth’s previous first-choice right-back, Alex Jimenez, has moved to Fiorentina amid investigations over alleged inappropriate social media activity.
This has left Araujo, 35-year-old club captain Adam Smith and Rangers flop Max Aarons as Rose’s right-back options.
The door is most certainly open for the Mexican to make his mark on the first-team and finally repay the £9 million fee they paid to bring him to the South Coast two years ago.
Martin O’Neill has admitted that he isn’t aware of the Cherries’ stance on selling the defender.
He said after Celtic’s friendly against Sporting: “I felt he did very well for us. He obviously picked up an injury at an inopportune time for him.
“We are talking about a fight for right-back with [Alistair] Johnston and Colby Donovan.
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“I don’t know if Bournemouth would loan him out again, I would think they would want to sell him.
“I would keep it open, because you don’t know what could happen. If it was all within our scope, it’s something I would definitely look at.
“Because he would be up for the fight. I haven’t been in contact with him for a few weeks, but overall, I don’t know what Bournemouth’s position is.”
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