Lewis Cook of AFC Bournemouth fires in a shot during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and AFC Bournemouth at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on November 30, 2019. (Getty Images)
According to the Daily Star, Leeds United are plotting a £15million raid on Bournemouth in a bid to re-sign former player Lewis Cook this summer.
As per the report, the Cherries are bracing themselves for a massive clear out of players following their relegation from the Premier League and Cook could follow the likes of Nathan Ake and Aaron Ramsdale through the exit door.
Born in York, Lewis Cook spent ten years in the youth ranks at Elland Road between 2004 and 2014 before making his professional debut for his boyhood club.
The 23-year-old featured 85 times for the West Yorkshire giants across all competitions, establishing himself as one of the brightest midfield prospects in the Championship before earning a move to Bournemouth back in the summer of 2016.
Cook made 75 Premier League appearances for the Cherries over the course of four seasons, with injuries somewhat stalling his progress. The England international started 14 league games for Bournemouth last term as Eddie Howe’s side went back down to the second tier after five years in the top-flight.
Mateusz Klich was a key contributor with goals and assists from central midfield in the Championship last season while Kalvin Phillips held things together in a deeper defensive role for Marcelo Bielsa’s side.
Adam Forshaw spent the majority of the previous campaign out injured, thus prompting the manager to put his trust in youngsters like Jamie Shackleton, Jordan Stevens, and Mateusz Bogusz.
However, it’s imperative to say that the Whites need more depth and quality in their midfield to cope with the challenge of playing in the Premier League, especially with fixtures set to come thick and fast until Christmas due to the delayed start.
The West Yorkshire giants have some quality young talent coming through their ranks but bolstering the squad with some proven PL pedigree would definitely be a smart idea.
And that’s exactly why someone like Lewis Cook perfectly fits the bill at Elland Road. The 23-year-old spent his entire youth career in West Yorkshire and also played professionally for the Whites, so it shouldn’t be a massive challenge for him to come back and deliver the goods.
The highly-rated midfielder struggled to reach great heights in the Premier League at Bournemouth, but his experience in the top-flight is something that should definitely prompt Leeds to re-sign him this summer.
Central midfield is one department where a lot of depth is desirable and Cook’s arrival would ensure healthy competition for places.
Marcelo Bielsa is right up there with the best when it comes to getting the best out of his players and Leeds could possibly enjoy a more upgraded version of Lewis Cook if the Argentine manages to work his magic.
At 23, the England international still has his best years ahead of him and that’s one of the reasons why a significant outlay for him would well be worth it as far as Leeds’ long-term plans are concerned.