‘Done the Impossible’: Bournemouth Pull Off Shock Transfer for Teenage ‘Sensation’

It’s Deadline Day for the Premier League summer transfer window, which means rumours are being reported on every single transfer…except for one. Bournemouth have managed to pull off a shock transfer for Veljko Milosavljević without anybody knowing. The signing matches their recruitment strategy of exciting young prospects.

Be sure to keep up with all of our Transfer Deadline Day coverage on this hectic summer window closer.

Bournemouth Pull Off Shock Transfer Without Any Rumours

No Add-Ons for Veljko Milosavljević

Bournemouth have officially announced the signing of Milosavljević, without any real rumours in the lead-up to it. Mark McAdam gave his praises to the Cherries, as he said they have “done the impossible”. The journalist continued to reveal that the fee is £13 million and, unusually in modern football, there are no add-ons, despite the player being just 18-years-old.

A New Defender Was Crucial: But Is He Good Enough?

This morning (September 1), with an Axel Disasi deal looking unlikely, Cherries fans may have been concerned that the club were not going to bring in another defender. Alex Crook even reported that the hierarchy would be happy with their summer business if Alex Jimenez was their last signing.

This would simply not have been good enough for Bournemouth’s squad depth. Losing stars Illia Zabarnyi and Dean Huijsen over the summer not only disrupted Andoni Iraola’s starting backline, but also left him very short on back-up options. Even after Bafode Diakite’s signing, James Hill was first back-up; the player with ~500 Premier League minutes went on to make a mistake leading to goal in his only start this season against Brentford in the cup.

After Hill, Matai Akinmboni (yet to make his debut) was the next centre-back choice, with Chris Mepham departing. This would not nearly have been adequate depth for a side wanting to push for Europe. However, even with the signing of Milosavljević, it could be argued that Iraola is still left with very inexperienced depth. The Serbian is a teenage “sensation”, but is he good enough right now?