After surviving in the Premier League for the second season in a row, Bournemouth are now stepping up their game as we find increasing activities by the Cherries in the transfer window. Their manager, Eddie Howe, definitely deserves certain quality ship-ins this summer to impose his philosophy perfectly after the 39-year-old pulled off a decent season with an average squad.
And according to reports, Bournemouth are eyeing a move for Ligue 1 side Dijon’s star forward Lois Diony in a bid to beef up their attack next season. Howe has been applauded by one and all for his positive football, which focuses more on attacking through free-flowing passes, and not on seeing out stronger opponents by parking the bus most of the game.
While it has definitely inflicted some heavy defeats upon them like 4-0 against Manchester City, 3-0 against Chelsea, 6-3 against Everton, 4-0 and against Tottenham Hotspur, the side has also given their fans some absolute brilliance in the 4-3 win over Liverpool, 4-0 win over Middlesbrough, a whopping 6-1 thrashing of Hull City and the famous 3-3 draw with Arsenal.
Howe could do much better with a quality strike force next season and the board looks well aware of that. Apart from their pursuit of the French international, Bournemouth have also closed the deal with Sunderland’s prolific striker, Jermain Defoe, as per reports.
The Ligue 1 side is reportedly demanding something in the region of £13m for their prized asset, who has 10 goals and assisted eight times in 35 league outings. The 24-year-old has caught the eyes of numerous other clubs across Europe and Bournemouth will do extremely well to win the race to land him.
Dijon have finished the French domestic league in the 16th position and Diony played a significant role in helping them stay the top-flight football. A centre-forward by nature, he can also play in the right winger’s role and his versatility could be a huge asset for Howe, who already has hardworking forwards like Joshua King and Benik Afobe up front.
An academy product of FC Girondins Bordeaux, Diony has spent time with clubs like FC Nantes and Stade Montois before Dijon picked him up in the winter of 2014. Diony is known for his dribbling abilities and perfectly measured long-shots. Alongside the likes of Junior Stanislas, Ryan Fraser and Calum Wilson, he could fire Bournemouth to a better finish in the table next season.
His contract with the French side expires in 2019 and Bournemouth will have to hurry for his price tag isn’t very unaffordable.
