Transfer News

It’s been a quiet but oh-so-profitable summer for Bournemouth. Quickly jettisoning Dean Huijsen (to Real Madrid) and Milos Kerkez (to Liverpool) immediately put the club in the black to the tune of over $100M. The club is currently still $78.5M positive and I would expect to see one or two shrewd signings before the window closes. Bournemouth rarely splurge, the clubs’ principles firmly rooted in the “buy low, sell high” school.

This is epitomized by their two big moves this summer in goalkeeper and defense. After Kepa Arrizabalaga’s loan expired and he was sold to Arsenal, they also shipped Irish goalkeeper Mark Travers over to Everton. Then they bought Chelsea’s Djordje Petrović. The entire transaction cost a hefty $25M, but replacing Kepa (who was outstanding last year) was clearly a priority.

In defense, their immediate concern was finding a replacement for Milos Kerkez. To this end they snatched French defender Adrien Truffert from Rennes. At only $15M he could prove to be a steal. Only 23, he’s not only sturdy (played nearly 3,000 minutes last season) but has some offensive firepower as well (notched 3g/2a). He’s been logging important minutes in the pre-season at Kerkez’s old left-back slot.

Season Outlook

It will be difficult to match last season’s record-breaking 56 points, particularly having parted with two of their defensive lynchpins. The pre-season has been a mixed affair, with two good wins (over Hibernian and Everton) balanced against two dis-spiriting losses (to Manchester United and West Ham). But gaffer Andoni Iraola in the past two years has honed the Cherries into a tight, efficient unit and with the core of the team returning expectations will continue to be high among supporters and pundits.

Key Players

• Forward
  • Evanilson is still the team’s attacking mainstay.
  • Dango Outtara supports on the left, either as a pure winger or wing-back.
  • England youth international Daniel Adu-Adjei already has a pre-season goal off the bench and should be someone to keep an eye on.
• Midfield
  • Antoine Semenyo, Justin Kluivert and Tyler Adams are still the essential trifecta, but watch out for Alex Scott.
  • The 21 year old spent his summer with the England U21s that won the European Championship and is in fine form.
• Defense
  • Illia Zabarni and Marcos Sensei will be your center-backs, with Julián Araujo and Truffert out wide.
• Goalkeeper
  • Petrović looks to have the starting keeper spot over the Brazilian Neto.

Other Bits

Bournemouth certainly look to be planning for a long stay in the top flight. Their owner (billionaire Bill Foley) recently cut the ribbon on a $46M training facility and also revealed that plans are afoot to purchase the Vitality Stadium outright and double the capacity via renovations.