While there isn’t much to offer online, Transfer Tavern is excited to provide an exclusive gateway to all things involving AFC Bournemouth, handing unfiltered access to the latest news to Cherries across the country, sharing transfer gossip, rumours, breakdowns, and social media reactions about everyone’s favourite South Coast club.
Eddie Howe certainly has his work cut out for him as he will try to keep his squad and his job intact by salvaging the scraps from a dreadful campaign so far.
AFC Bournemouth can’t quite afford the luxuries of some of their nearest rivals but that hasn’t stopped them making some major moves in the past.
Nathan Ake became the club’s record transfer signing when he moved to the Dorset town from London giants Chelsea for £20.5m in July 2017, until Howe splashed out £25.2m on Colombian midfielder Jefferson Lerma nearly two years ago.
Disappointingly, Dominic Solanke has proven to be an expensive flop at the time of writing, as the Chelsea academy graduate cost £19m, yet has failed to score in the Premier League all season.
Hampered by a modest budget, the head coach has often had to rely on a string of loan deals, recently bringing talented youngster Harry Wilson to Dean Court from Merseyside.
Former Bournemouth manager Dom Begson shocked the football world when he signed a 36-year-old George Best at the end of 1982. Although it is fair to say the Northern Irishman was well past his prime towards the twilight of his career, as he even briefly hung up his boots when the season finished, landing one of the game’s greatest ever players is definitely one for the history books.
More recently, the coastal resort witnessed the arrivals of club legend Steve Fletcher, Jermain Defoe and Asmir Begovic. Fletcher began his career at Hartlepool United and then spent 15 seasons with the Cherries, scoring 88 goals in total.
Defoe left Sunderland on a free transfer and scored the matchwinner in a derby game against Brighton on his return to Boscombe. The former England international will join Rangers on a permanent basis after signing a pre-contract agreement before going out on loan.
The Cherries need to find a capable goalscorer who can alleviate the pressure from the defence. Solanke hasn’t lived up to his full potential and seems to be short of all confidence, while Callum Wilson and Josh King have been consistently linked with moves away from the South. Maxim Demin may be forced to to break the bank for Lyon striker Bertrand Traore.
After such a promising start, Lewis Cook was in line to make his international debut for Gareth Southgate’s England squad. The trouble is, recurring injury problems and losing his place in the starting lineup have evidently taken their toll, and the defence has changed so much over the course of the season, although he has performed well with Lerma in recent weeks.
With an average squad age of 29, supporters are expecting a summer turnover, and chairman Jeff Mostyn could find himself negotiating moves for Ryan Fraser and Jack Simpson.
Manchester United could look to bring in a one-time Red Devils academy prospect as a possible alternative to Jadon Sancho. According to...
According to a report from Football Insider, after facing repeated knockbacks from a plethora of striking targets, Spurs could now reignite their...
According to an update courtesy of Bleacher Report journalist Dean Jones, Spurs ‘might yet’ land Bournemouth striker Joshua King if the saga...
Many Aston Villa fans have reacted to a transfer report that claims £20m should be enough for the club to sign Josh...
Manchester United are looking for any additions in the transfer window that would help improve the quality of their squad, and the...
According to an exclusive report from Manchester Evening News (MEN), Leicester City currently lead the race for Bournemouth winger David Brooks, even...
Tottenham Hotspur have been backed to sign Ollie Watkins from Brentford by talkSPORT pundit Perry Groves, amid interest from Aston Villa in...
Many Aston Villa fans reacted to a report which claimed Newcastle had a £20m bid accepted for Callum Wilson, prior to confirmation...