Sunday 17 June 2018

Should AFCB go back in for Brentford defender?

The news that AFCB have had another offer for Brentford's Chris Mepham turned down after an initial bid last January that also failed to land the player, should AFCB discontinue their chase for the player that is only going to see his price escalate? Brentford certainly don't seem keen on selling the 20-yer old who was a major contributor last season for the Bees with 21 appearances, and having made his first senior international appearance for Wales in March this year against Mexico, Brentford know they have a special talent on their hands.
Eddie Howe walks around Griffin Park in 2014-15,
but has been sending scouts there more recently.
According to SkySports, the player signed a five year contract for the London club in September 2017 and played 21 games in the Championship last season with Brentford having made his debut at  Griffin Park in January 2017. Brentford conceded 52 goals last season in finishing 10th and only the teams above them conceded fewer goals.

Eddie Howe has been tracking centre-half Mepham for some time now and the improved offer of £10m compared to last January's £5.5m bid, as announced by SkySports, is a sizeable increase. So what now for the Cherries? The Cherries need reinforcements in their back line and yet the club has not paid more than £10m for a Championship player in the past, and it looks like Brentford would not even be tempted if the Cherries added another £2m, if as SkySports report the £10m bid is not close to their valuation of Mepham.



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Bournemouth will have put a lot of work into trying to make this a successful bid, but for once they are not finding their spending power enough to make the Championship side budge. It's certainly a knock back for AFCB and I'd imagine the club is very keen to get a first signing completed before the end of June.

The move for Mepham strikes me as another player who would be signed on potentially having a few games in the first team next season and not necessarily a certain regular starting spot. It suggests to me that perhaps AFCB are not yet seeking to bring defenders in that would put Simon Francis or Steve Cook on the subs bench. I kind of hope that AFCB therefore drop their interest in Mepham before they try and pay over the odds. 


Dean Court Days- get a signed copy!
I other news, Michael Dunne is holding a signing day for Dean Court Days on Saturday 23 June between 1-3pm at In off the far post, 901 ld Christchurch Road, in Pokesdown BH7 6AX. Richard Cooke and Paul Morrell are also popping in to sign a few copies of the book.

Southgate's World Cup Day 3 reports

1 comment:

  1. Totally agree...£10m appears way over the odds in the crazy world of transfer values..and am sure the player will have his head turned with a huge hike in his salary that Bournemouth can offer...for sure the club needs to bring in more defensive quality so assuming we are still selling more players to fill up the coffers..Gradel,Grabban and Arter..why not push the boat out and go for Luke Shaw ....Wilshere looks available on a free transfer,or Calum Chambers from Arsenal

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