northstandmark
UTC Legend
Sorry to disappoint you but if a top four club wanted any of our players, they'd be off
This basically.
It's just about player and club being clear with each other. We aren't bringing the lower league lads up with us any more, we are looking for younger players talented enough to take over those roles.
Realistically, Lerma like Rico, like Ake, Mousset, and Lewis Cook, won't come here because they've always dreamed of playing for Bournemouth. Lerma, Rico and Mousset likely never heard of us prior to us getting to the PL. We are a route into the PL for them.
If we can pick talented players up in positions that we really need, allow them to do well for us for 2 seasons, and then sell them on to the top 6 if they're that good, really that's not a bad way of operating. We know Ake and Lewis Cook will move on to that level eventually, having done a brilliant job for us. And they will make us a lot of money in the process.
As long as both player and club are clear about how that works, what sort of price mark is required to make the next move happen, so that there's no surprises or toys out the pram. I know it angers Southampton fans who feel they should be the top 6 club doing the buying, but then they can't see past the end of their own nose.