The announcement that Eddie Howe made after the Birmingham match that AFCB had agreed terms with Wolverhampton Wanderers for the signing of Benik Afobe was very welcome news for AFCB fans can be reassured that the club is doing what it can to bolster its attacking options. There is quite a race on now to get the personal terms agreed and for Benik to make himself at home and acquainted with Dean Court ahead of his potential debut against West Ham on Tuesday night.
Eddie Howe said that the club had been tracking Benik every since his early days at Arsenal and yet never thought they would be in a position to sign the 22-year-old striker. The undisclosed transfer fee is assumed to be around £9m and that smashes the club's record by at least £1m with Tyrone Mings £8m signing in the summer. It is a signing that I think takes the club forward in many ways. Firstly, it is perhaps a break with the links to Lewis Grabban who the club were said to have made a move for before turning attention to Benik. Secondly, it is a signing that gives the club a much younger front line with Callum Wilson and Benik making a fearsome strike partnership in waiting. Thirdly, it takes pressure off of some existing strikers such as Josh King and Glenn Murray who will be keen to battle for their places. This increased competition should help the goal count. Fourthly, the early timing of the signing in the transfer window means the team can set up and attack the second half of the season straight away.
So the Afobe signing is major for many reasons. It's also pleasing that top strikers in the Championship are keen to come to the Cherries rather than some other clubs in the Premier League who have a longer history in this league. The kind of players that are at the club are slowly changing and I expect there will be one or two departures for those who are not getting game time.
Benik is ready to play though and will be wanting to get gaols straight away. He may start his AFCB career playing just behind Josh King on Tuesday night. That will be exciting for the squad who have also recently welcomed Juan Iturbe as well. There is a fresh and energetic look the players that Eddie Howe now has to select from and like you I can't wait for the games to come now.
You can listen back to comments from fans about the AFCB FA Cup win at Birmingham along with views on the signing of Binek Afobe by tuning in to All Departments. Visit the All Departments' website to hear what Michael Dunne makes of AFCB's latest signing or scroll down the panel on Cherry Chimes to the All Departments' sound bar.
AFCB are ball No 13 in tonight's FA Cup Fourth Round Draw on the One Show at 7pm.
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| Official AFC Bournemouth photograph of Benik Afibe. |
So the Afobe signing is major for many reasons. It's also pleasing that top strikers in the Championship are keen to come to the Cherries rather than some other clubs in the Premier League who have a longer history in this league. The kind of players that are at the club are slowly changing and I expect there will be one or two departures for those who are not getting game time.
Benik is ready to play though and will be wanting to get gaols straight away. He may start his AFCB career playing just behind Josh King on Tuesday night. That will be exciting for the squad who have also recently welcomed Juan Iturbe as well. There is a fresh and energetic look the players that Eddie Howe now has to select from and like you I can't wait for the games to come now.
You can listen back to comments from fans about the AFCB FA Cup win at Birmingham along with views on the signing of Binek Afobe by tuning in to All Departments. Visit the All Departments' website to hear what Michael Dunne makes of AFCB's latest signing or scroll down the panel on Cherry Chimes to the All Departments' sound bar.
AFCB are ball No 13 in tonight's FA Cup Fourth Round Draw on the One Show at 7pm.
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