Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe insists he has no problem with football agents.

Figures released on Thursday showed that Premier League clubs spent a combined £261m on agent fees over the 2018 summer and 2019 winter transfer windows, with Bournemouth paying intermediaries £10.3m over that period.

"I think football agents, whatever their terminology, are a big part of the game and I don't see that changing in the short term," he said.

"So, although you could say it's going out of the game, I think it's a necessity if a football club wants to sign players.

"You show me a Premier League club that wants to sign players or has to sign players that doesn't pay agents. That doesn't happen. If you want to sign players you have to pay agents."