Four AFC Bournemouth players that Arsenal should try to sign

Four AFC Bournemouth players that Arsenal should try to sign

By Tum Balogun 
It’s not often that a club chasing the glory of Champions League football looks to bolster their ranks with additions from recently promoted Premier League sides. 
But in recent years, the second tier of English football has shown itself to be a great proving ground for upcoming talent and bigger clubs - more than ever - are turning their eye to young, cheap, often British stars. 
Take Liverpool’s summer move for Fulham’s Fabio Carvalho, Tottenham’s signing of Djed Spence or Aaron Ramsdale’s switch from Sheffield United last year. 
Let’s assess whether AFC Bournemouth have any starlets Arsenal could look to relocate from the south coast. 

Dominic Solanke

The former Chelsea and Liverpool frontman finally showed the potential many had foretold in Bournemouth’s second-placed finish last term. 
If not for the frankly ludicrous goal scoring record of Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrović, Solanke’s league total of 29 goals from 46 games would have been heralded. 
The tall forward, still only 24-years-old, is an imposing presence and possesses the speed to pose a serious threat in behind the opposition defence. 
Solanke would also present a different dimension to the Arsenal frontline - boasting superior physical attributes to Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah. 
Solanke clearly had enough pedigree to graduate from the Chelsea academy and his talents impressed Jurgen Klopp enough to snatch him off the hands of the west Londoners. 
With a prolific season behind him and a full test ahead in the Premier League, he could certainly realise that star potential. 

Chris Mepham 

The second player, and another southern-born talent on this list, Chris Mepham came through Brentford’s pioneering B team structure after starting out with the Blues at Stamford Bridge. 
Since moving to the south coast in 2019, the 24-year-old has emerged as a solid defender and played an important role at centre-half last season. 
Mepham can also boast a wealth of international experience, having featured 31 times for Wales and he will be confident of displacing Joe Roden in the Welsh back-three come this winter’s World Cup in Qatar.
This Premier League campaign will be an examination of the defender’s development but don’t be surprised to see his name in transfer rumours come the end of the season should the Cherries suffer an expected relegation. 

Marcus Tavernier

One of Bournemouth's summer acquisitions, Marcus Tavernier is developing into an incredibly valuable asset. 
Though most often deployed in attacking positions, the 23-year-old is a versatile player and has been used anywhere from left-back to right wing in his short career. 
Younger brother of Ranger captain James Tavernier, Marcus joined the Cherries off the back of another promising season with Middleborough - where he made 44 appearances and contributed with five goals and five assists. 
Tavernier is definitely one to keep an eye on in his first Premier League campaign but early signs are good with an encouraging performance against Aston villa on the opening day. 

David Brooks

David Brooks hasn’t played football in almost a year - he’s had much more important things to worry about. 
Shortly after his last performance against Peterborough, the forward revealed he had been diagnosed with stage two Hodgkin lymphoma. 
Thankfully good news followed and in May Brooks returned to Twitter to announce that he was now cancer free, giving him the all clear to continue with his career.
Before the health scare, Brooks was highlighted as a potential star of British football and impressed in his debut Premier League campaign in the 18/19 season where he scored seven goals and provided five assists from 30 games. 
For obvious reasons, production has vastly reduced since then but with a clean bill of health and time to get back up to full speed, the exciting winger could force his way back into the spotlight. 
And still only 25-year-old, the Welsh international has plenty of time to make an impact at a big club.
Photo Credit: Getty Images

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