Sold by Leeds United to Bournemouth, Lewis Cook has been a peripheral figure for the Premier League side.
Bournemouth’s Lewis Cook in action with Valencia’s Alvaro Medran
Leeds United fans were dismayed when the club accepted a bid from Bournemouth for star midfielder Lewis Cook in July.
Seen as a future club captain, the England under-19 international’s sale was another depressing reminder of the club’s mid-table second tier status.
But after starting in the first game of the season for Bournemouth against Manchester United, Lewis Cook’s time at his new club has not gone to plan.
Reading’s George Evans and Bournemouth’s Lewis Cook in action
He has not played in another Premier League game since, and the arrival of Jack Wilshere on loan from Arsenal has put a severe dent in his chance of regular playing time.
Cook has had to make do with two EFL Cup appearances, but after their elimination from the competition by Preston, this avenue is closed.
So just like Arsenal saw fit to loan out talented midfielder Wilshere to get regular playing time, Bournemouth should at least consider letting Cook go out on loan if his situation does not change by January.
Leeds United’s Lewis Cook scores their first goal
Leeds’ Lewis Cook in action with Derby’s George Thorne
Cook is at a crucial stage of his footballing development, playing in 3,658 league minutes for Leeds last season – so far he has played only 81 minutes for his new club.
The 19-year-old cannot afford a wasted season, and a loan move makes sense – and at no club more so than Leeds United.
Bournemouth would not loan Cook to a Premier League rival, while the midfielder could surely not bring himself to play for another Championship side other than Leeds.
The Whites have replaced Cook by signing Liam Bridcutt and Eunan O’Kane, while promoting Kalvin Phillips and Ronaldo Vieira to the first team.
Yet bringing Cook back, even temporarily, would give the Whites a huge lift, add to the morale of Garry Monk’s side and strengthen their options at a crucial stage of the season.
Leeds are in 11th place and after winning four of their last five games, consider themselves capable of mounting a play-off run.
Bringing Cook back on loan should be an option worth exploring, and one which may temporarily suit Bournemouth too.
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