Sky could be the ceiling for Bournemouth as head coach Andoni Iraola looks to lead the team into the top half of the Premier League standings. The Cherries had a respectable run last season as they finished 12th in the league standings. Striker Dominic Solanke played a huge role in the team’s success. However, with the club fearing to lose their star man, it will be interesting to see how things turn out for the club if they lose their prized possession this summer.
An initial look at Bournemouth’s squad marks them as one of the balanced lower mid-table teams in the competition. The team has a good mix of young and experienced players who could play a key role in the team this season. The club is unlikely to spend big bucks this time around unless they lose Solanke and have to dip their toes in the market in search of an apt number nine.
Transfer Strategy
Bournemouth is unlikely to make any big moves this summer. The team will just look to balance their squad depth as they look to improve on their performance from last season. Head coach Andoni Iraola has worked with this group of players for over a year and would love to continue meeting the club’s and fans’ expectations.
Just like how the club isn’t interested in buying any top name, they do not want to part ways with their top talent. According to reports, the club has already slapped a €70 million price tag on Dominic Solanke. Meanwhile, Max Aarons was linked with a move to Southampton, but the Cherries are not happy with the offer at the plate and have rejected the €6 million bid.
Squad Needs & Areas of Improvement
The Cherries will look to improve their bench strength this summer after keeping hold of most of their top names. With most of their defenders signing contract extensions, the team could dip their feet into the market for some rotational midfielders. The attack seems pretty sorted with Dominic Solanke and the club is unlikely to sign a new number 9 unless the player departs this summer.
Potential Signings
The club has already done most of its business at the start of the transfer window. According to reports, the team is eyeing some unnamed lower-division talents who could suit the club’s system. The move for Alex Paulsen is a prime example, and it’s unlikely that Brentford will stray away from their transfer ideology.
Financial Capabilities
Unlike some other upper-mid-table teams, Brentford does not have a fancy transfer budget. However, the team management has already done what they had to do this season with the club renewing the contract for multiple top stars. However, if any club matches their bid to lure Dominic Solanke away from the club, we could see the Cherries pour around €30-40 million to find a suitable replacement.