Bournemouth can achieve a top-6 finish this season if they sign this creative Bundesliga star in January

Why Kerem Demirbay could propel Bournemouth to a Europa League spot

Bournemouth have made a brilliant start to the new Premier League campaign and are currently placed 6th on the table with 20 points from 12 games. The Cherries, however, have lost their way somewhat in the last couple of games after witnessing defeats against Manchester United and Newcastle United respectively.

Despite defeats in the last two games, Eddie Howe should be delighted with the way his team have performed in the Premier League so far this season. Howe has done a magnificent job as a manager, making Bournemouth play an eye-catching, high-tempo brand of football.

Howe deserves massive credit for getting the best out of his players, who, with all due respect, are not world-class.

Callum Wilson has been fantastic for the Cherries this season, scoring goals at a constant rate. Ryan Fraser has done exceptionally well this season, adding guile and creativity to Bournemouth’s attack, while the defence has been well marshalled by the likes of Nathan Ake, Steve Cook and Simon Francis.

However, the Cherries don’t have a top-quality creative midfielder in their squad. The likes of Lewis Cook, Marc Pugh, Andrew Surman, Dan Gosling and Jefferson Lerma are all central midfielders. David Brooks and Junior Stanislas performed very well in advanced positions but they don’t fall in the category of “world-class” creative midfielders.

Keeping that in mind, Bournemouth should sign an attacking midfielder adept at creating chances and scoring goals. Hence, Howe should launch a bid for Hoffenheim star Kerem Demirbay in January.

Kerem Demirbay, 25, has been capped twice by Germany and was a part of the national squad that won the 2017 Confederations Cup in Russia. The 25-year-old has impressed since joining Hoffenheim from Hamburger in 2016, becoming a vital cog in Julian Nagelsmann’s side.

Demirbay produced arguably his best performance in Hoffenheim colours in the Champions League this season, causing Lyon endless problems in a thrilling 3-3 draw at the Rhein Neckar Arena last month. His reputation has been built upon energetic lung-bursting runs from the midfield and his ability to score eye-catching goals from range.

The German is creative, agile and adept at starting attacks from a deep-lying role. He can pick out a pass from congested areas, break the opposition’s play with his tackling and score from free-kicks. A dead-ball specialist, Demirbay would bring dynamism to Bournemouth’s play in the attacking third.

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In every case, Demirbay would represent a coup for the Cherries. The Germany international would slot right into the No.10 role, thereby taking Eddie Howe’s men to a different level altogether in the Premier League. The Turkish-German has all the attributes to propel Bournemouth to a Europa League spot.