Bournemouth ‘confident’ of signing prolific Dutch attacker, amid interest from three other Prem sides
Bournemouth are very interested in re-signing Villarreal attacker Arnaut Danjuma this month as they eye attacking reinforcements, according to reports.
The Cherries are allegedly ‘confident’ of sealing a deal for the Dutchman on a six-month loan until the end of the season, which would include an option to make his stay permanent.
Given Danjuma played at the Vitality Stadium between 2019 and 2021, Gary O’Neil’s side have an advantage in negotiations. Everton, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest are also interested.
This is according to The Athletic, who claim that Bournemouth are currently the frontrunners in the race for the 25-year-old’s signature.
As mentioned, he is already familiar with the club, so the Cherries believe the forward could hit the ground running and become a key player for the remainder of this season.
During his two-year stint at Bournemouth, Danjuma played a total of 52 games, scoring 17 goals and making eight assists.
His first season was playing in the Premier League, where he initially struggled to adapt, failing to score in 14 league appearances and the Cherries were ultimately relegated.
However, playing in the Championship, he was one of Bournemouth’s most important players, netting 15 times in 33 games as his team clinched a play-off spot.
He then left the south coast for Villarreal on a £21million deal, which was a record signing for the Spanish club at the time.
Over the last two seasons, Danjuma has contributed 22 goals in 51 appearances, along with four assists, giving him an impressive average of 0.51 goal contributions per game in Spain.
Danjuma’s goals could help secure safety for Bournemouth
Despite Danjuma being in good form for Villarreal, he doesn’t seem to be in Quique Setien’s plans as the club have made it clear they are willing to listen to offers for him.
Everton, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest have all made enquiries about the Dutchman, so it seems likely he’ll be heading to the Premier League this winter.
Re-signing him could prove to be an important bit of business for the Cherries, as O’Neil is acutely aware that he needs more goalscoring options.
Indeed, Bournemouth have failed to score in their last three league games, which has left them just one point outside the relegation zone.
A versatile player, Danjuma can play as a centre-forward, a second striker or on either wing, so he could provide cover in several positions for O’Neil.
Dominic Solanke, Bournemouth’s current top scorer, has proven in the past that he can link up well with Danjuma, which is another reason why this could be an excellent signing.
The only worry is that the forward failed to score the last time he played in the English top flight.
However, he has made considerable progress during his time in Spain, so O’Neil will be hoping that Danjuma can be much more effective this season if they can get a deal over the line.
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