Bournemouth will head into another difficult summer with vultures once again hovering around the club’s best players.
However, there will also be an influx of incomings, with the club gearing up for its first European campaign in its history.
“Dream” signings will mean different things to different clubs. The Cherries can’t go out and sign world-class stars, so expectations have to be tempered somewhat. The south-coast side’s model has enabled them to pick up players on the path to star status and sell them for a huge profit, and adding the next big thing is their version of a dream acquisition.
With that in mind, looking to the Premier League’s relegated clubs is a sound strategy. Plucking the best from a bad bunch can keep costs down while providing huge upside, and negotiations will be easier with players forcing moves back to the top flight.
Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Mateus Mané had a breakout season, with the 18-year-old becoming a regular under Rob Edwards. In addition to three goals and two assists, the Portuguese has demonstrated positional versatility, fearlessness in taking on players, electric pace, and a willingness to bring teammates into the game. For new manager Marco Rose, those attributes would be perfect for his system.
Mané will see the opportunity to play in the Europa League and to continue his development in one of the best leagues in the world as the perfect step, and Wolves can use the money to rebuild to earn promotion out of the Championship.
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