Monday 19 June 2017

Ryan Kent will be another AFCB midfielder trying to oust Arter and Surman

Last night the Daily Star reported that AFCB had made a £6 million bid for Liverpool's Ryan Kent. Cherry Chimes suggested this move in May after a Daily Express lead. The move follows the signing of Asmir Begovic and will be the third Liverpool player that AFCB have signed in the last year, after the signings of Jordan Ibe and Brad Smith. Like the latter two, Klopp is asking for a buy-back clause if the deal goes through.
Eddie Howe makes his bid for Liverpool's Ryan Kent.
Eddie Howe seems as keen to raid Liverpool as Liverpool are at raiding Southampton. The need to bring in youth is uppermost in Howe's thinking it would appear, although the attempts to give Arter and Surman competition in midfield have not seen the two regulars lessen their grip on their starting positions.

AFCB need to invest in this area though as the side is not scoring from central midfield. Whether Ryan Kent, Lewis Cook, Emerson Hyndman or Dan Gosling can shift the balance in their favour is something that will resolve itself throughout the season.  


The fans certainly love Harry Arter and he is a player that will always look to get forward when he can to make the extra man and to give assistance to the strikers. But even he admits it's been hard for him to score goals and he is keen to do better in front of goal.

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Andrew Surman had a spell where he would take most of the free kicks, especially in AFCB's first season in the Premier League but it didn't really do anything to boost his goal count. I don't think it's a part of Surman's game that is likely to change now and his qualities in spotting passes and reading the game to make decisive tackles are more important attributes for his part of the side.

It may be some time before we see a player such as Ryan Kent oust Surman or Arter from the team, but if Kent can be signed on a long term contract then he will be a rising star in a couple of years and the building blocks will be in place for a young energetic team by 2018/19. For the moment both he and perhaps Emerson Hyndman could be loaned out with the number of central midfielders that would be at the club if this deal does go through. 

My latest HITC articles - What lies ahead for Wolves' Silvio?  And Is Leicester striker headed back to Brighton?

1 comment:

  1. Surman is out of contract at the end of this month!

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