Bournemouth will jump into the European loan market to replace Enes Unal, the second striker they have had ruled out for a significant spell in the last week.
Unal tore an anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during training – the Turkey international has suffered that injury twice in just over a year – and joins record signing Evanilson on the sidelines after he broke his foot.
The i Paper understands one of the Premier League’s surprise packages will alter their January transfer window plans to cope with the dual blow, which has winded the Cherries – riding high in 7th in the table, just three points off fourth.
But will it derail their remarkable season? Don’t bet on it. Bournemouth’s flying form seems to be built on solid foundations.
One recruitment source told The i Paper Bournemouth have four of the most coveted players in the Premier League’s transfer market right now: defender Illia Zabarnyi, left-back Milos Kerkez, forward Antoine Semenyo and centre-back Dean Huijsen.
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It’s understood they’re attracting interest from some of the biggest clubs in Europe. Kerkez has admirers at Liverpool, while Newcastle like Zabarnyi and Semenyo. Chelsea are also fans of Ukraine defender Zabarnyi.
But it is Huijsen, 19, physically imposing and also superb on the ball, who looks like the jewel in the crown. One analyst who has worked extensively in the top flight believes he can become the “best in the world” in his position.
None will be sold this January, with Bournemouth instead open to deals to allow Max Aarons and Philip Billing – who was interesting Newcastle last year – to leave.
Incomings have been with an eye on the future: the 19-year-old Argentine left-back Julio Soler has been signed from Lanus to spend six months developing to either rival Kerkez or replace him if they do decide to sell in the future.
Centre-back Matai Akinmboni, a US under-20 international signed from DC United for around £1m will join the development squad.
There’s a bigger plan in play too. The summer saw additions to owner Bill Foley’s Black Knight Football and Entertainment group – the umbrella organisation that is headed by Bournemouth but includes stakes in Hibernian, French side Lorient and Auckland FC.
Soler is seen as one for the future (Photo: Getty)Alongside former Roma director of football Tiago Pinto, Foley appointed the highly-rated Columbus Crew general manager Tim Bezbatchenko to tighten up the club’s multi-club model.
A deal to take over majority ownership of Portuguese top flight club Moreirense – seen as a key investment for hot-housing young European talent – has been struck and is currently going through final legal processes.
It is intended to be the last part of the Black Knight jigsaw, and another step towards Bournemouth’s evolution.
Iraola’s work behind the scenes
Bournemouth are helped by the fact that they have one of the Premier League’s most outstanding managers in Andoni Iraola, described by some of those who have worked with him as “an owner’s dream manager”.
What that means is he is a classic training ground coach, dedicated to player development, set pieces and squeezing any improvement out of the squad he’s inherited. Whatever his personal ambitions, he doesn’t get involved in training ground politics or worrying about the transfer window.
Tactically he’s sharp, delivering clear messages that the players like. He is relatively rare in preferring to defend man to man, a simple concept for players but one that requires a huge physical effort to make it work. Players are buying into it – it says it all that Bournemouth have the fifth best defence in the league.
Iraola has transformed Bournemouth into a surprise package (Photo: Getty)A rival Premier League coach told The i Paper that what makes Iraola stand out is his commitment to transitions. “Bournemouth attack quickly, they’re quite direct from that point of view, and they can be a nightmare to defend against,” they said.
High standards are required. Iraola regularly studies his players’ high speed runs, distance covered and high intensity runs, which Bournemouth are in the top three of the league alongside Liverpool and Brentford at.
The team trains at high intensity and if anyone’s level drops, they can expect to be dropped themselves.
Foley made his billions in financial services but is not risk averse. Buying into Bournemouth was a gamble but, thanks to the funds he’s put in and the structure he’s building, it is starting to pay out.
Over Christmas he spent 10 days around the club, speaking to players, watching training and checking in with staff from the boardroom to the canteen. That common touch belies a fierce ambition to make Bournemouth more than just a “club on the south coast of England”.
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Around £250m has been invested in transfers but, just as importantly, Foley has transformed the club’s structure.
His background in sport – he also owns the ice hockey team the Vegas Black Knights – means that he has an innate understanding of the rhythms of an elite sporting environment.
His first big call – criticised at the time – was dispensing with Gary O’Neil’s services after he kept the Cherries in the Premier League.
But bringing in Iraola has taken them to the next level and when Bournemouth went nine games without a win last season, his backing remained steadfast.
Success on the field comes as off-the-field investment is being made. A £40m training ground is being constructed alongside plans to improve the club’s Dean Court stadium, which is, by some distance, the smallest in the Premier League.
This year’s impressive first half of the season has been a surprise. The idea was that they would target Europe in “two or three years” but they are in contention, ahead of schedule, this year.
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