Are AFCB right to go for Pope as keeper saviour?

While Bournemouth have had a torrid season in terms of letting in goals, it can't be a big surprise that a new keeper is a high priority for the south coast club. There have been links with Jack Butland, as an England keeper languishing in the Championship, but the fees involved in such a move and with Asmir Begovic perhaps wanting not to make a return to Stoke City, the talk has died down. In its place comes of news that Nick Pope of Burnley could soon be a Cherry, which is perhaps the more cost-efficient choice.

Asmir Begovic looks like he is on his way out of AFCB this summer.

While Pope had a great season at Burnley the season before last, he has been unable to get a game in the last Premier League season and we don't really know what his form is like at the moment. It does kind of nark me that when it comes to picking keepers, AFCB tend to look at options that other clubs are very willing to palm off, if you'll forgive the hand pun.

Burnley are indeed overweighted with Englishman vying for the national keeper's shirt let alone their club No 1 spot, but there are surely more options than just England keepers to pick from. And don't we want a keeper who is in form? Foreign keepers dominate the Premier League and none of the top six clubs have an English keeper. Everton have Jordan Pickford, Watford Ben Foster and of course Burnley have Joe Hart and Tom Heaton, while Palace go Welsh with Wayne Hennessey, but  the days of British keepers being at the top of the game have arguably been surpassed.

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It's not just about keepers who make great saves but keepers that can play out from the back with their feet. I'd argue that Pope is a great shot stopper, but is he a big improvement on what we have playing with his feet - well Boruc perhaps. Mark Travers and Aaron Ramsdale have looked very alert though in goal and does it matter if AFCB's keeper is younger than most? In a team that prides itself on keeping the ball and playing from the back is Nick Pope the right choice for AFCB? I do hope AFCB are not panicking into picking a keeper who has been an international, but is simply a cheap option and happens to be available.