Bournemouth Opinion: Cherries should sign Dan James as Ryan Fraser replacement
According to the Sun on Sunday, as cited by TEAMtalk, Bournemouth are leading the race to sign Swansea City and Welsh international winger Daniel James in the summer, with manager Eddie Howe identifying the 21-year-old as a replacement for Ryan Fraser.
Fraser has been the subject of interest from Premier League giants Arsenal in recent weeks and Bournemouth might be forced to cash in on their prized asset, with his current contract set to expire in 2020. (h/t TEAMtalk)
James has been in scintillating form for Swansea in the Championship this season, registering 4 goals and 6 assists from 30 appearances in what has been a rather disappointing campaign for Graham Potter’s side following their relegation from the Premier League last year.
The 21-year-old, who is currently rated at £10million by the Swans, came close to joining Leeds United in the January transfer window but a £7 million switch to Elland Road fell through after talks between the two clubs reached an advanced stage.
And while Leeds are expected to go back for the player in the summer irrespective of where they play their football next season, a move to the Premier League might materialize for the youngster, with Man City, Burnley and Everton all expressing their interest in the Welsh international. (h/t TEAMtalk)
To put things into perspective, Bournemouth would need to do really well to strike a deal for James, with so many clubs on the trail, but the Cherries can bag a massive coup if they manage to beat off competition for the 21-year-old in the summer.
Fraser has refused to sign a new deal at the south coast club and the Cherries would be better off cashing in on him this summer rather than losing him for free in a year’s time.
James’ stocks have been on the rise since January and the Welsh prodigy has caught the eyes of several clubs with his swashbuckling displays down the left-hand side of Swansea’s attack.
He is probably one of the quickest players in the Championship and he has a lot more to his game as well, with his well-rounded passing attributes, vision and eye for goal making him stand head and shoulders above most of the young players in the same mould.
James has earned plaudits for his lung-busting runs down the left and the directness with which he charges at his opposite number is enough to set the cat amongst the pigeons in the opposition’s defence.
Despite standing at 5ft. 7 inches with a diminutive frame, James has considerable upper body strength and he combines that with his pace, acceleration and trickery to wreak havoc.
He shields the ball well in tight areas down the flanks and often uses short exchanges to link up with his teammates. Furthermore, he has a good eye for goal from distance and is never afraid to put his foot through the ball.
James boasts of a pass success rate of 80.5 in the Championship this season, including 1.1 key passes per game, which is expected to increase as he continues to mature into a fine young player.
Ryan Fraser has contributed with 7 goals and 11 assists for the Cherries in the Premier League this season and Eddie Howe would have a massive task on his hands to find a replacement for the Scotsman should he head for the exit door in the summer.
James is not yet the finished article and it remains to be seen how he copes with the pressure of the Premier League even though one would expect him to make the jump from the Championship successfully in due course of time.
To Read More Bournemouth News, Click Here:- Latest Bournemouth News
Bournemouth have invested fearlessly in young talents like Lewis Cook, Dominic Solanke, Lys Mousset, Jordon Ibe, David Brooks, Chris Mepham and many others in recent times. Daniel James might be the next in the queue, as Howe looks to build a strong core of home-grown young players.
