Bournemouth keen to sign Gaetano Castrovilli

Bournemouth have reportedly agreed a deal with Fiorentina for the signing of Gaetano Castrovilli.

The Cherries—following the surprise appointment of Andoni Iraola as new head—have made some impressive buys in the form of Milos Kerkez and Justin Kluivert. And they are not done yet, with a central midfielder top of Andoni Iraola’s wishlist.

According to reputed Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Bournemouth will pay Fiorentina €12m plus €2m add-ons for Gaetano Castrovilli. The central midfielder is expected to fly to England on Friday to sign off on the final details of the deal and to complete his medical.

Castrovilli, 26, joined Fiorentina from Bari in 2017, before being farmed out on a two-year loan to Cremonese in Serie B. Since returning to Fiorentina for the start of the 2019-20 season, the Italian has gone on to make 125 appearances across all competitions, scoring 13 goals and registering eight assists.

The 26-year-old spent a considerable amount of time on the sidelines last season after undergoing knee surgery, limiting him to just 15 Serie A appearances as a result.

Gaetano Castrovilli to Bournemouth—Good addition?

Bournemouth have lost several crucial players from the last few seasons this summer, but the departure of Jefferson Lerma on a free transfer will sting a lot. As a free agent, Lerma has moved to Crystal Palace, leaving a huge void in the Cherries midfield which new boss Andoni Iraola has prioritised filling.

The south coast club are understood to be closing in on the signing of Gaetano Castrovilli, having agreed a fee with Fiorentina. A central midfielder by trade, Castrovilli is versatile enough to operate as a No.10 or out wide. He is a crisp passer of the ball, hard-working and energetic, which would make him a good fit in Iraola’s high-pressing system at Bournemouth.

However, a lack of physicality could see the Italy international struggle in the Premier League. Standing at 6ft 2ins tall, Castrovilli has a good stature but competing in England is very different as compared to Serie A and, thus, he may initially find it difficult to get to the pace of the game in the top flight. Thus, how he adapts to the fast-paced and physical nature of Premier League football will be interesting to watch.

Moreover, there are question marks over the 26-year-old’s fitness, having had knee issues over the last two seasons. So, Castrovilli will need to keep himself fit in order to challenge for a spot in the Bournemouth first XI. If he can quickly acclimatise to the new surroundings and prove his fitness, the Italian midfielder would prove to be a bargain signing for Bournemouth.