Why Gary Gardner would be a good signing for Bournemouth
According to claims from Football Insider (h/t Birmingham Live), Bournemouth have been linked with a shock move for Birmingham City midfielder Gary Gardner, with manager Jason Tindall keen to make some fresh additions to his squad before next month’s deadline.
The Cherries are hopeful of getting a deal done for the former Aston Villa man for just over £1m. (Football Insider h/t Birmingham Live)
The 28-year-old, who went into the new season with a knee injury, is yet to start a single game for the Blues in the Championship under Aitor Karanka, having appeared as a substitute in each of the club’s three league fixtures so far.
Profile
Gardner rose through the youth ranks of Aston Villa and spent time on loan at Coventry City before making his senior debut for his boyhood club back in November 2011.
However, he struggled to establish himself as a regular starter at Villa Park and spent time on loan at Sheffield Wednesday, Nottingham Forest, Barnsley, Brighton, and Birmingham City before joining the Blues on a permanent deal last summer.
The 28-year-old central midfielder has accumulated 6 goals and 5 assists in 84 appearances for Birmingham City across all competitions, having featured as a regular starter for the Blues in the Championship over the past two seasons.
Gardner would add more depth to Bournemouth’s midfield
Bournemouth have made a positive start to life back in the Championship, registering two wins and a draw from their first three league games so far.
However, lack of new signings this summer could jeopardise their prospects of challenging for promotion at the first time of asking, having already lost key players like Callum Wilson, Ryan Fraser, Aaron Ramsdale, and Nathan Ake at both ends of the pitch.
The Cherries aren’t really crying out for cover in the middle of the park, with established players like Jefferson Lerma, Dan Gosling, Lewis Cook, and Philip Billing all competing for places. However, it wouldn’t be a bad idea for Bournemouth to replenish their reserves in midfield following the departure of a seasoned campaigner like Harry Arter.
Bournemouth can certainly do with some additional cover in the central midfield department where a lot of depth is desirable, considering the long and hard slog of a 46-game season in the Championship coupled with the rigours of playing in the FA Cup later in the year.
Gary Gardner, to that end, ticks the box as a quality midfielder with plenty of Championship experience under his belt, having played 195 games in England’s second-tier.
Hence, it goes without saying that the 28-year-old’s potential arrival at the Vitality Stadium would ensure healthy competition for places in Bournemouth’s midfield while also facilitating squad rotation.
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Verdict
Gary Gardner still has plenty to offer at 28 and the former England U-21 international can well be a massive bargain for Bournemouth if he is, indeed, available for anything like £1m in the market. He would be a quality addition to Tindall’s side.
