Bournemouth could challenge for Europa League spot if five players never left

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Bournemouth would arguably be challenging at the top end of the Premier League table if they had been able to keep their best players over the last few years. Several big-name stars have turned out for the Cherries since they made their debut in England’s top flight back in 2015, with many of them having tasted success elsewhere.

Express Sport takes a look at five players who could have turned Bournemouth into a Europa League side had they stayed at the Vitality Stadium…

Arnaut Danjuma

Everton winger Arnaut Danjuma spent just two seasons at Bournemouth, during which he managed to establish himself as their main attacking threat. He scored 17 goals and provided eight assists for the Cherries before he was sold to Villarreal, who reached the Champions League semi-finals in his first season on their books.

The Dutchman is now back in the Premier League with Everton after joining the Toffees on a season-long loan from Villarreal over the summer. He has already scored twice in all competitions and would certainly be an important player for Bournemouth if he was still at the club, with Andoni Iraola’s side having managed just five league goals all season.

Nathan Ake

Nathan Ake is by far the most successful player to have represented Bournemouth in recent years after winning a historic treble with Manchester City last season. The 28-year-old is a trusted member of Pep Guardiola’s squad due to his defensive prowess and impressive versatility, which have seen him feature in all but one of City’s league games so far this season.

Bournemouth received a club-record fee in exchange for Ake’s signature in 2020 but the Cherries would surely love to have him in their current side given the quality he possesses. He is likely to remain at the very top for several more years, though, leaving his former club to wonder what might have been if he was still their player.

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Tyrone Mings

Tyrone Mings never really managed to get going at Bournemouth, with a number of injury blows stunting his progress at the Vitality Stadium. He was sold to Aston Villa after four years and has since emerged as a very capable asset for Unai Emery’s side following his transition from a left-back to a central defender.

A hypothetical pairing of Ake and Mings would certainly be a formidable duo, with both players operating at a different level to what Bournemouth currently have in defence. They are one of the leakiest sides in the Premier League as things stand, having conceded 18 goals in just eight matches since the start of the campaign.

Aaron Ramsdale

Not many Bournemouth fans would say no to having Aaron Ramsdale back in goal, with the England ace having excelled since leaving the club in 2020. He enjoyed a brilliant debut campaign with Arsenal last time around, with his heroics between the sticks helping the Gunners to keep the pressure on City all season long in the Premier League title race.

Ramsdale now faces a battle to retain his first-choice berth at the Emirates Stadium following the arrival of David Raya, who has been preferred to start by Mikel Arteta as of late. He has subsequently been linked with the likes of Bayern Munich and Chelsea, although reports have suggested that he is prepared to stay at Arsenal in order to fight for his place.

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Callum Wilson

Callum Wilson played a crucial role in getting Bournemouth into the Premier League and keeping them there during his six-year spell at the club. He bagged a total of 67 goals for the Cherries, putting him in the top five on their list of all-time record scorers.

Wilson has continued to rack up plenty of goals since moving to Newcastle three years ago but has slipped down the pecking order at St James’ Park, with Alexander Isak having firmly established himself as their main striker. It remains to be seen whether a romantic return to Bournemouth will ever take place in future, with Wilson still contracted to the Magpies until the summer of 2025.

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