Eddie Howe will now take Bournemouth into their fourth consecutive top-flight season and he seems determined to make a mark on the Premier League in the upcoming season. The Cherries spent big on a number of players last summer and came close to a finish in the top half of the table. They are now looking to go a step further and are desperate to sign some star players this summer.
This has seen the club get linked with a host of exciting talent but one player they are ready to break their transfer record for is Jefferson Lerma.
The 23-year old moved to Europe for the first time with Levante on a loan deal in 2015 and earned himself a permanent move to La Liga the next summer. He broke into the Colombian national side last year and was a part of their World Cup run that ended in the Round of 16 in Russia.
Predominantly a defensive midfielder, Lerma can play as a right-back or a central midfielder and showed great confidence at the highest stage, playing in every game for his side in Russia. Last season, he made 25 appearances in the Spanish league and was one of the most consistent players for his side.
He is beast in the midfield, happy to throw himself around and make crunching tackles, outside the box. He is strong in the air and is quick to make interceptions while his ability to find teammates in space, even under pressure, allows his side to set up attacks from the back.
He is a frustrating player to play against and is perfect for the English game and at just 23, he has a bright future ahead of him and can be a decent coup for Bournemouth.
However, they initially were ready to pay just £18m for his services but Lerma could end up costing close to £32m, which will be a massive statement from the Cherries. It is reported that they are making their move to try and land Lerma but does his price tag and this move make sense for Howe? Both Lewis Cook and Dan Gosling were solid for most of the season but Harry Arter remains the only real backup for these midfield roles, making Lerma a necessity at the Vitality Stadium.
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Howe has added a creative option to his side in David Brooks and the Colombian international will now add tenacity and steel to their side, which will certainly make equipped to face the toughest of the challenges in the top flight. At his price, he will be under constant pressure but do you think he can prove himself in England?
