Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe has claimed that he was satisfied with the club's transfer business until two of their star new recruits Max Gradel and Tyrone Mings suffered serious injuries.

The Cherries' club-record signing Mings suffered a knee injury during the team's 1-1 draw with Leicester City a fortnight ago, and will be sidelined for the rest of the season.

In addition, Gradel, who signed for the Cherries last month from Saint-Etienne, has been ruled out for six months.

Overall, Bournemouth signed nine players in the summer, including striker Glenn Murray, who moved to the Vitality Stadium from Crystal Palace on transfer deadline day last week.

During his weekly press conference, Howe told Sports Mole: "Up until the Leicester City game, I was delighted with where we stood [on transfers].

"We did a long pursuit of Max Gradel. For a long, long time we tried to sign him, knowing what he could do for us. To get him and then to lose him again sort of changed how the squad was balanced so that's the only downside from my perspective.

"As it is now, it's an opportunity for somebody else. We believe in the players that we have here - I've said that all along, and you're going to get injuries throughout the season, it just so happens that we got two in one game."

Bournemouth, who have taken four points from their first four Premier League games, will face Norwich City at Carrow Road this Saturday.