After a five year stay in the top-flight A.F.C Bournemouth’s remarkable Premier League fairy tale came to an end.
Eddie Howe was unable to prevent the Cherries from being relegated back to the Championship, and unfortunately, it now appears clubs are already picking pieces off of their carcass. Manchester City have had a bid accepted in the region of £40m for Nathan Ake, while Newcastle have been linked with both Callum Wilson and David Brooks.
The 23-year-old Welshman missed 33 matches of this season with an ankle injury and scored just one goal, following a breakthrough campaign which saw the winger net seven strikes and provide five assists.
However, even though he has dropped back to the Championship, where he previously represented Sheffield United, Kevin Phillips has suggested the playmaker may feel like he owes the Cherries.
What did he say?
Speaking to Football Insider, Phillips said: “Unfortunately, when you get relegated it’s hard to keep hold of your most talented players because these players want to stay in the Premier League.”
“Brooks, he might feel that he owes Bournemouth one and stay. Having been injured and not really playing a part, he might feel that he needs to stay there because what he will do, he’ll play football week in and week out,” added the former Premier League Golden Boot winner.
Phillips added: “If he goes to a Premier League club, will he play week in and week out? I don’t know. It’s a difficult one. He’s certainly got talent. And it wouldn’t surprise me if a Premier League club signed him and then loaned him out somewhere.”
Outlier
Bournemouth have been widely criticised for recruiting poorly over the last couple of seasons. Their most disastrous signings have included Dominic Solanke for £19m and Jordon Ibe for £15m, with the pair combined having scored just six goals for the Cherries across 120 top-flight appearances.
Although Brooks appeared to be one of Howe’s most diligent pieces of recruitment, arriving for only £11.5m two seasons ago. He was directly involved in 12 goals in his first campaign, but ankle surgery caused him to feature just nine times this term.
At 23-years-old Brooks still has plenty of time to develop and it’s easy to see why Newcastle may think there is a bargain to be had now the Welshman has dropped into the second tier if he can be convinced to move on.