Why have AFCB agreed price for home-grown defender to join Cardiff City?

Bournemouth have reportedly agreed that Jack Simpson can join Cardiff City for the knockdown price of £0.75m, according to SkySports. While Middlesbrough, Stoke City and Derby were checking the 24-year-old for a loan move, Cardiff seem to have jumped ahead by looking to buy the defender outright. Simpson's contract was due to end this summer.

Jack Simpson doesn't look part of AFCB's plans going forward.
Simpson has made six appearances in this current campaign for AFCB and his place was under pressure from the return to fitness of Cameron Carter-Vickers and well as the possible return soon of Chris Mepham. Looking ahead there didn't seem to be much opportunity for Simpson if these two players were going to be ahead of him, even if Bournemouth played three at the back.

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Simpson's form was called into question at times with recent defeats and while he was dropped after the 1-1 draw with Millwall, Bournemouth's form hasn't improved. The decision to sell Simpson may be more about the club looking to bring income in than a desire to let the young home-grown defender go to a Championship rival.
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If Bournemouth don't get promoted this season it might seem a strange decision to have parted with such a defender who could be a central figure in a Championship campaign going forward. The salary that Simpson was on is unlikely to be equivalent to many of the other more established players at AFCB, so there won't be a great saving there for the club.

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It does point towards Bournemouth looking to keep hold of the other defenders they have which might be good news for senior players like Steve Cook and Adam Smith who have been at the club a long time. Academy players may also be close to making the first team come the summer. Anyway, it looks like Jack Simpson only has to agree terms with Cardiff to complete the deal if SKySports has the details right.

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