Potential departures at Bournemouth this summer

Written by kirsikka

There’s some discussion elsewhere that this will be a quieter summer for AFC Bournemouth considering the windows we’ve had recently. That does make a lot of sense, and I do think incomings are going to be heavily dependent on outgoings and the money they raise, but there is a possibility the summer could see some significant upheaval.

Some thoughts on the potential outgoings for players linked to the first team squad, even if some aren’t near it anymore, with guesswork on my part as to how likely they are to leave permanently or on loan.

Neto
Came here to be the first choice somewhere and even ended up as team captain. Then had something of a ‘difficult second album‘ for his follow-up season and has lost his place to Travers. Doubt he wants to sit on the bench so may seek some assurances in the summer but, with his wage reportedly being hefty, not sure he will move on anywhere. Unless a Begovic-style loan materialises.

Mark Travers
25 in a few days so unlikely to want another season as a second choice since he’s getting close to no longer being “young for a keeper”. Has acquitted himself well in the last few matches so might get to keep the gloves. My guess is he’ll stay and start the season as number one but, equally, he could also angle for a move if he thinks he’ll be overlooked again in favour of Neto.

I suspect neither he nor Neto will leave but I don’t think either can be ruled out entirely.

Lloyd Kelly
As I see it, he’s off. The contract might not be signed at another club yet but I think that’s merely a formality. As has been pointed out many times, it’s a double blow as we’re losing someone who can cover Left Back and Centre Back.

Milos Kerkez
Linked with Chelsea earlier in the season by the rumour mill. I think that’s a touch too soon for him still and I guess he’ll be here at least one more season, probably more, as there is a rawness to his defending at times.

Illya Zabarnyi
Looks like the kind of Rolls Royce defender who ends up at a Champions League club. I think he’s another who will be here for at least one more season but I wouldn’t entirely rule out bids coming in already. He will be hot property in the transfer market next summer if he continues to progress.

Chris Mepham
He’s racked up over 100 league appearances in six years, but, during that time about the only period he was a first-choice centre-back was last season before the arrival of Zabarnyi dropped him down the pecking order once again. Apparently, he wanted a move in Jan to boost his international prospects. I can see him asking to move on this summer.

Lewis Cook
I don’t think anyone would want him to leave after the season he’s just had but he only has 12 months left on his contract. We aren’t a club that can afford to see a prize asset walk away for free every summer yet, assuming Kelly is off, then we’ve lost:

2020: Baron Greenback
2021: Josh King (ok, slightly more complicated but he had significant transfer value before his strop)
2022: (Nobody of major transfer value)
2023: Jefferson Lerma and Jordan Zemura
2024: Lloyd Kelly

Yes, there can be value in keeping a player for that final season and some of them were crucial to what we did. Also, relegation certainly played its part in some of these contract situations developing. However, hopefully, we’re now in a better place to tie key players down or sell them. If Lewis Cook was to join the above list in 2025 it wouldn’t make pretty reading. Hopefully, he signs a new deal but if not… sell…?

Gavin Kilkenny
Ok, he’s only been part of the first team when we were depleted of numbers and suffering an injury crisis but he’s still worth a mention. One year left on his deal. Let the kid spread his wings and become part of a first XI somewhere.

Joe Rothwell
The right player at the wrong time? Hasn’t worked out for him so hopefully, someone will see his value and fork out what it takes to bring him to their club. Otherwise, another season on loan beckons which may end up being the outcome if his wages are too high for a Championship team.

Philip Billing
Crucial to both promotion and staying up last season but has been somewhat sidelined since the Cook-Christie-Kluivert holy trinity was discovered. There’s an aura around his reputation which indicates he isn’t an ideal fit for an Andoni Iraola team but, equally, he only signed a new deal at the start of this season.

I think he’s got it in him to fit the system in the Christie role (shh… quiet down at the back… it’s just an opinion) but I can’t imagine he’s delighted with how the season went for him.

My guess is he’ll still be here next season but if someone comes in for him, it won’t be dismissed out of hand and he may also be interested in seeing what’s on the table.

David Brooks
The strange thing is, if he’d stuck around I think he might have played a decent amount since January but the impact of Semenyo means he’ll be on the bench again come August, at best. His delicate and clever play doesn’t feel like a natural fit for the AI system. With so much competition for that role even as a sub, this might be a sad departure. I do wonder if an ’emotional return’ to Sheff Utd, even on loan, might be the outcome for this one?

Jaidon Anthony
Lots of criticism went Zemura’s way for bailing on us when Anthony signed a new contract but which looks to be the better move now from the player’s perspective? A wasted season of bit-part minutes in the Championship for JA. It’s a hard one to call as he looks like a player that would thrive in the AI system so maybe he’ll rejoin the squad for next season, although the Sinisterra permanent signing is a barrier. Equally, he might feel disgruntled at the way things happened and seek a move.

Kieffer Moore
In a grand total of 83 Championship minutes, he scored four goals and became a player that will live long in the memory of AFCB fans. He simply doesn’t suit the IA way but his spell at Ipswich shows he can still make an impact. If they don’t want to sign him, surely someone else will snap him up this summer?

Dominic Solanke
The big kahuna. If he’s sold it significantly changes our finances for the summer, but also has us looking to replace something every team wants – a goalscorer. I think a Solanke move depends on three things:

1 – What Lopetegui wants to do at West Ham
2 – Whether Spurs sell Richarlison and, if they do, whether they decide to shop domestically again or try an overseas striker.
3 – Where Toney goes

His stock and value are high. The right time to sell? Let’s see what offers materialise.

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I’m not suggesting for a moment all those players will leave but there are a lot of questions across the squad so we could end with a summer that is very busy with outgoings. Some of the above have already been replaced, but others will definitely need new blood to take their place if they go. Which could mean we need to bring in quite a few as well.

Finally, there’s one thing at the back of my mind. We need to be wary of building a squad packed only with players that fit like a glove to the AI system unless he commits to a longer contract. Of course, he might leave at any point if he’s poached but we should at least try and protect ourselves a little. Otherwise, we may regret letting certain players move on when a new manager bemoans the lack of variety at his disposal, kicking off another rebuild.

A quiet summer to bed in Simon Francis? I doubt it.