Why Bournemouth should complete a loan deal for Sam Greenwood
According to the Wales Online, Bournemouth are among a host of Championship clubs interested in signing young Leeds United striker Sam Greenwood on loan in the January window.
Sheffield Wednesday and Cardiff City are also understood to be weighing up a move for the 18-year-old, who has been in sensational form for the Whites’ U-23 side this season. (h/t Wales Online).
Profile
Sam Greenwood started his career in the youth ranks of Sunderland and made his debut in the U-18 Premier League during the 2016-17 season. He caught the eye with an impressive tally of 6 goals and 5 assists in 15 appearances for the Black Cats in the following season before being snapped up by Arsenal in 2018.
The highly-rated striker made an instant impact for Arsenal at the U-18 level, scoring 10 goals and setting up another 5 in 21 appearances in the 2018-19 U-18 PL. Greenwood was eventually promoted to the Gunners’ U-23 set-up in the following campaign and scored once in 5 appearances in the Premier League 2 Division 1 last term.
Greenwood switched boats to join Leeds United this past summer in search of a quicker route to first-team football. The England youth international has hit the ground running for the club’s U-23 side, bagging 6 goals in 8 appearances in the PL 2 Division 2 so far this term. The youngster’s impressive progress at the youth level has put several Championship clubs on red alert ahead of the January window.
Greenwood looks ready for a step up to the next level
Bournemouth are currently flying high in the Championship after a stunning start to the 2020-21 season. The Cherries have accumulated 38 points from 20 games so far, leaving them second in the league standings. With Jason Tindall’s side just 5 points adrift of pace-setters Norwich City, they look strong contenders for automatic promotion.
The south coast outfit are hardly crying out for firepower in front of goal heading into next month’s transfer window. Bournemouth, in fact, boast the best scoring record in the second-tier with 35 goals scored so far. That the Cherries have shipped just 16 in the process clearly underlines the depth and balance in their squad.
Dominic Solanke has been the top goal contributor for the club with 8 goals and 4 assists in 20 appearances. The likes of Arnaut Danjuma Groeneveld, Junior Stanislas and David Brooks have also chipped in key contributions in the final third for the promotion-chasing Cherries. With Sam Surridge offering valuable cover up top, Bournemouth look well-stocked in their striking options.
Despite that, however, bolstering the attack with the acquisition of a talented youngster like Sam Greenwood in January wouldn’t be the worst idea for the Cherries. Tindall will surely need adequate depth in his ranks heading into a crucial second half of the campaign, with fixtures set to come thick and fast and the race for automatic promotion expected to go down to the wire.
Verdict
A loan spell in the Championship would ideally be the next big step in the development curve of Sam Greenwood. The 18-year-old has exceeded expectations at the U-23 level and needs a taste of senior football to take his game to the next level.
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Bournemouth have built a massive reputation in recent years when it comes to nurturing young talents, as evident from the progress of Brooks, Lewis Cook, Jack Simpson, Groeneveld, Lloyd Kelly and several others. Greenwood doesn’t have any top-level experience so far but it would make sense for the Cherries to offer him a chance.
Swansea City benefitted from Rhian Brewster’s loan spell in the Championship last season and the Cherries could well unearth their own gem in Greenwood. With Joshua King’s departure looking imminent, the teenager fits the bill as good temporary cover at the Vitality Stadium.
