Bournemouth winning the race for this talented 19-year-old would be smart long-term investment

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Sayan Chatterjee

Why Bournemouth signing Matthew Sorinola would be a smart move

According to claims from TEAMtalk (h/t Teesside Live), Bournemouth are among a host of English clubs keeping tabs on highly-rated MK Dons starlet Matthew Sorinola. 

The Cherries are joined by Championship rivals Brentford and Middlesbrough in their pursuit of the 19-year-old left-back. The teenager has also attracted interest from Premier League outfits Newcastle United, West Ham, West Brom, Burnley and Crystal Palace. (TEAMtalk h/t Teesside Live)

Profile

Born in Lambeth, South London, Matthew Sorinola started his footballing education in the youth ranks of Fulham. He joined MK Dons’ academy back in 2017 and made three appearances in the EFL Trophy during the 2019-20 season after signing his first professional contract last year. The left-back was loaned out to non-league side Beaconsfield Town for the second half of the previous campaign to gain more first-team exposure. 

Sorinola has established himself as a regular fixture at the back for MK Dons in League One this season following his return to the club in the summer. The 19-year-old was voted the club’s Player of the Month for September. 

eastleigh v milton keynes dons fa cup first round
EASTLEIGH, DEVON – NOVEMBER 08: Matthew Sorinola of Milton Keynes Dons runs with the ball during the FA Cup First Round match between Eastleigh and Milton Keynes Dons on November 08, 2020, in Eastleigh, Devon. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

Bournemouth would benefit from Sorinola’s potential

Bournemouth aren’t really crying out for immediate cover in the left-back department heading into the January window. Cherries boss Jason Tindall hasn’t been hesitant to switch between back-three and back-five systems in the Championship this season, rotating the likes of Diego Rico, Adam Smith and Lloyd Kelly to good effect.

Indeed, the south coast outfit seem pretty well-stocked in that area of the pitch but it wouldn’t be a bad idea to scour the market for some up and coming prospects. With Smith out of contract next summer and Rico also entering the last 18 months of his current deal at the Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth might as well line up some younger alternatives. 

Matthew Sorinola fits the bill as an exciting young player with plenty of room for development. The 19-year-old has already started to make strides in senior football at MK Dons in the third tier and could be ready to make the step up to a club higher up the footballing pyramid if he continues to progress down the right path. 

milton keynes dons v fulham u21 leasingcom trophy
MILTON KEYNES, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 01: Matthew Sorinola of Milton Keynes Dons contests the ball with Ben Davis of Fulham U21 during the Leasing.com Trophy match between Milton Keynes Dons and Fulham U21 at Stadium mk on October 01, 2019 in Milton Keynes, England. (Photo by Pete Norton/Getty Images)

While essentially a left-back by trade, Sorinola has showcased the versatility to operate as a wing-back on either side of the pitch. Those qualities should make him a useful addition to Bournemouth’s squad. 

Verdict

Matthew Sorinola might not fit the bill as an immediate game-changer for Bournemouth but the Cherries would be better off looking at him as one for the future. The South Coast outfit have built a massive reputation of cultivating rising talents, as evident from the growth and development of players like Stacey, Kelly, Lewis Cook, Arnaut Danjuma Groeneveld and David Brooks. 

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The 19-year-old looks very much a player in a mould similar to the ones mentioned above and Bournemouth beating off competition for the League One starlet could well pay off handsomely for their long-term plans.