Benik Afobe has hardly set the world alight at Bournemouth so why would West Bromwich Albion pay big money to sign him?
Bournemouth’s Benik Afobe
Benik Afobe is one of that rare breed of strikers who comfortably outgrew the Championship but are yet to prove that they can make the grade in the Premier League.
Like Cameron Jerome, David Nugent or even Luciano Becchio, the former Arsenal youngster has so far struggled for consistency in the top flight. After scoring for fun with Wolves, he has managed just ten goals in 46 games since moving to Bournemouth for a club record fee of around £10 million in January 2016, as reported by the BBC.
And, if main striker Callum Wilson had not suffered another season ending injury in February, Afobe might have managed even fewer than just 14 Premier League starts for Eddie Howe in 2016/17.
Therefore, reports in the Express and Star claiming that West Brom are keen come as something of a surprise. Quick, strong and innately athletic, Afobe is certainly the kind of striker that Tony Pulis likes to lead the line.
However, The Baggies boss has spoken openly about the club needing a more clinical touch in front of goal. Many supporters continue to despair at Salomon Rondon’s Jekyll and Hyde displays, the Venezuelan even going four months without a goal last season, while Hal Robson-Kanu netted just twice all season.
Yet, there is little reason to suggest that Afobe could be anything like an improvement on the options already at West Brom’s disposal. Though he started far fewer games than Rondon last season, a tally of six league goals does not exactly set the pulses racing.
West Bromwich Albion need better than Salomon Rondon
And Bournemouth will surely want to recoup the £10 million they paid just 18 months ago.
But if West Brom want to build on their top half finish of last season, they need better than the modern-day Cameron Jerome.
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