Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
Bournemouth have announced the signing of Asmir Begovic from Chelsea on a reported ‘long term deal’. The 29 year old Bosnian international has decided to leave this season’s Premier League Champions and F.A. Cup Runners-up in search of more likely first team football.
Begovic moved to Stamford Bridge in 2015 from Stoke but his spell in West London has been one where he has predominately had to make do with being utilised in a backup role. The 29 year old only managed 17 league starts in two seasons and 15 of them came in the previous campaign.
That meant that he was only selected twice in the starting eleven when it came to league duty as the Belgian Thibault Courtois was firmly back as the undisputed no.1 at Chelsea after a spell of sidelines under previous boss Guus Hiddink.
For Begovic, Bournemouth will provide the perfect opportunity for playing on a week to week basis and for a goalkeeper that is reaching for what is many considered his peak years then the lure of playing on a regular basis was an offer which was to good to turn down.
Not only that but with Eddie Howe’s men finishing a record 9th place in the Premier League this season this is a team brimming with talent as they continue to not only solidify their top flight status but try and kick on even further up the table.
If The Cherries did have one criticism it is perhaps the fact that they were suspect in terms of goalkeeping personnel with former Celtic ‘keeper Atrur Boruc prone to the odd clanger every now and again. With that in mind it would certainly be an area in which Eddie Howe would want to improve over the Summer.
And with the capture of Begovic he has done exactly that, Howe was quoted earlier as saying “Asmir is an outstanding goalkeeper who has proved himself capable of performing at the highest level over a number of years, he is a leader as well and exactly the kind of character you want in the team”
High praise indeed from the manager of the South Coast outfit and you would have to say that it is a very smart bit of business from Bournemouth and more important early business at that. Cherries fans will now hope that they can complete the signing of England international Jermain Defoe soon also.
