Transfer story
Bournemouth’s success story saw a new chapter written this season as manager Eddie Howe masterminded yet another respectable finish in the Premier League. The owners are happy with the team’s progress and are expected to back Howe in the summer. Bournemouth are also targeting players on free transfers – John Terry included – to add a sense of experience in this young squad.
Howe has successfully managed to save funds to spend on young emerging talents. One such player who is linked with the Cherries is Dijon’s promising striker, Lois Diony who has been crucial in his side’s bid for survival in Ligue 1.
Dijon’s number 9 has seen his stocks rise this season after helping the side avoid the drop until now as the French side just need a win in their last league game against Toulouse to be safe from relegation.
Bordeaux, Lille, Monaco and Nice have all been linked with the striker with Bournemouth being the latest club to be linked with the 24-year-old. Diony is being valued at about £10-15 million by Dijon which might make Bournemouth the front-runners to sign him.
Player stats
For a seriously underperforming side, Diony has done exceedingly well to stay fit throughout the season by making 34 league appearances and also scoring 12 goals and 8 assists. With 1.7 shots attempted per game, Diony likes to be heavily involved in the game which has resulted in all the big French clubs taking note of the striker.
What’ll he offer the club?
Diony is a typical modern day striker who likes to drift wide and influence games from the flank. He often goes wide on the left to get more involved and cuts inside to use his strong right foot. He has a belter of a shot and scores regularly from distance.
When present centrally, he likes to play on the shoulders of the last man and often beats behind the defences brilliantly. If Bournemouth do sign the talented Frenchman, a strike force of Joshua King and Diony would be a dream pairing.
Worth the money?
Bournemouth will have to shell out a sum which will be close to their all-time record as Dijon wants at least £10-15 million for their valuable asset. He is an exciting prospect but the Cherries should think twice before investing so much in an untested entity as the majority of the French players have failed for them in the past. Their last record signing – Jordan Ibe from Liverpool – has failed to justly his price tag despite showing a lot of promise at Merseyside.
