Fantasy Arsenal: Which player would you add from Bournemouth?

We are back with our Premier League player transfer series. In the first two parts, readers voted for Todd Cantwell and Jack Grealish. Which may indicate the desire for new, or additional, attacking options. Or that those two relegation zone clubs don’t offer many overly attractive transfer targets besides the obvious. Will we see a third attacking player win the vote in this entry or will today’s centerback target prove too valuable to what Arsenal need at the moment?

Fantasy Arsenal Series: Norwich City | Aston Villa

Up next is 18th place Bournemouth, who are currently sitting just in the relegation zone on 27 points, based on goal difference. So who might be of value for Arsenal from this club in trouble?

Nathan Ake

Position: Centerback

Projected Value: $31 million.

Argument For: As the most expensive player on the Cherries roster, a move for Ake would be quite unlikely given the current financial situation. But Ake comes with plenty of Premier League experience (160 appearances across Bournemouth, Chelsea, & Watford) and 12 goals. With 11 caps for the Netherlands, he is becoming a central figure in their rebuild over the past few seasons. This season he led Bournemouth in passes completed and pass completion percentage. Arsenal need fresh CB options, and Ake would be preferable to a few names on the current roster, but at over $30 million, it would be a really hard reach for the Gunners at this point.

Philip Billing

Position: Center Midfield

Projected Value: $16 million.

Argument For: From Bournemouth’s trio of potential midfielders (Billing, Brooks & Lerma), Billing might be the best value at $16M. He was a fixture on the Cherries’ Premier League stat charts this season - first in tackles, first in aerial duels won, third in passes, third in shots (again as a CM), second in interceptions, and third in clearances. With 70 Premier League games under his belt and only 23, there is plenty of potential there. However, with Lucas Torreira (24), Mattéo Guendouzi (21), Joe Willock (20), Arteta would need to see something in Billing that those three young midfield options don’t already offer.

Ryan Fraser

Position: Left Winger

Projected Value: $19 million.

Argument For: Arsenal have already been linked with a move for Fraser since the break in play. It’s likely that Arteta will have another attacking winger when the season starts, but will Arsenal prefer a player with Premier League experience who may be able to adapt quicker or go with another option from outside of England. Fraser led Bournemouth with four assists this year, shot creating actions, passes into the penalty area and was second in progressive passes. A player that pushes towards goal and works best with clinical forwards. Something Aubameyang and Martinelli would thrive off of.

Callum Wilson

Position: Forward

Projected Value: $26 million.

Argument For: While he is already 28, Callum did rack up nine goals this season and led Bournemouth in shots on target. He might be Lacazette-lite, so the question comes down to if he could be more clinical when presented with chances? And if he would be worth the investment when Martinelli and Nketiah are waiting for more minutes. He might be a solid striker for the lower half of the Premier League, but Arsenal would have to be really high on his individual contribution to make a gamble here.

Harry Wilson

Position: Right Winger

Projected Value: $19 million.

Argument For: Like his fellow attacking winger Fraser, Harry Wilson has a similar estimated value, but technically isn’t on the Bournemouth books, so we are kind of cheating here. He has failed to break through into Liverpool’s first yet and with their current roster that remains a tall challenge as he returns back from his loan. The 23-year-old scored seven goals and led Bournemouth in shots this season. He has unlikely come close to his ceiling yet, but Arsenal have Pepe and Reiss Nelson on the right side of the attack, so another investment on that side might be a hard sell given the current issues in the squad.

Let us know which Bournemouth player you would make the move for and why? Or if there is a player who perhaps featured less, and is cheaper, that would be a better investment for the Arsenal depth chart?