Bournemouth Seal The Deal For 25 Y/O La Liga Defensive Ace: Shrewd Move By Howe?

According to latest reports, Bournemouth have completed their second signing of the summer. Diego Rico signs a four-year deal with the club and while the fee is undisclosed, it is believed to be £10.7million. Apart from the Premier League outfit, Borussia Dortmund had also registered a late bid to sign the player. However, the Cherries beat off the competition to land the exciting fullback.

Before the completion of this deal, the Cherries had lured just one player to the Vitality Stadium in David Brooks from Sheffield United for £11.30million. However, the transfer window is due to be shut down on 9th August, which implies that there is still time to further add to their roster.

Bournemouth have erected a strong footing in the Premier League under Howe’s guidance. The 40-year-old manager has done a fine job so far ever since his appointment as the manager of the club back in 2012. With the amount of competition set to rise this season as well, Howe is grooming his arsenal and someone like Rico is expected to be a fine addition.

Having emerged through the youth ranks of Burgos Promesas and Zaragoza, the Spaniard was promoted to the senior side of the latter after impressing for their B team. In the summer of 2016, he signed a four-year deal with Los Pepineros and has been a handy asset for the club. He played an instrumental role in helping his side stay in the La Liga last season.

In 26 league appearances, Rico scored 2 goals and also garnered 2 assists. Besides, he made 2.6 tackles, 2.9 interceptions, 1.4 clearances and 0.2 blocks per game on an average. The left-back is a modern-day footballer and maintains a fine balance between his defensive and offensive endeavours. Besides, his crosses are pretty commendable most of the times and he has garnered plenty of experience under his belt.

However, he is unfamiliar with the English style of play and he might take some time to absorb the pressure and adjust to the physical nature. To thrive, he would need to brush some of the aspects of his game. His passing and the ability to hold the ball in the final third are two areas where he can improve on. The 25-year-old has proven his mettle in the Spanish top division and Eddie Howe and co. will be eager to witness his growth and impact now that the deal has been completed.

Statistics Credits: WhoScored