Arsenal and Liverpool have been urged to sign AFC Bournemouth attacking midfielder Justin Kluivert in the summer transfer window.
Kluivert shined for the south coast club in the Premier League last season, producing 12 goals and six assists in 34 top-flight games for the Cherries.
Bournemouth are reported to have placed a €50m-€55m (£43m-£47m) price tag on the 26-year-old star, who can also be deployed as a winger and has previously played for Ajax and Roma.
Rene Meulensteen, a former first-team coach at Manchester United, is convinced his Dutch compatriot would ‘thrive’ at Arsenal or Liverpool.
‘Kluivert would thrive at Arsenal or Liverpool’
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‘I’m surprised that Justin Kluivert hasn’t had a huge transfer,’ Meulensteen told Grosvenor Casino about the Netherlands international, who is the son of Patrick Kluivert and under contract at Bournemouth until June 2028.
‘I wondered if Arne Slot would have a punt on him because he is versatile, he is quick and has developed really well.
‘He has come so far and is very effective, I could see him thriving at Arsenal or Liverpool.
‘Maybe not with Manchester United, they already have Matheus Cunha and Bruno Fernandes, but I think Kluivert has done really well.’
Kluivert has established himself as a key player for Bournemouth, helping them to an impressive ninth-placed Premier League finish last season.
That marked Bournemouth’s joint-highest league finish in the club’s 126-year history, only matched by Eddie Howe’s Cherries in 2016-17.
After a successful season, Andoni Iraola’s side have already lost two of their most important stars – Dean Huijsen and Milos Kerkez.
Huijsen joined Real Madrid while Kerkez moved to Liverpool – and the Cherries are fighting to keep hold of a number of their other players.
Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain are hoping to complete a move for Illia Zabarnyi and there had been huge speculation over Antoine Semenyo before he signed a new deal to remain at the Vitality Stadium.
Bournemouth have, however, strengthened their squad this summer by signing Chelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic for £25m.
The Cherries have also recruited Rennes left-back Adrien Truffert as a replacement for Kerkez.
Bournemouth, traditionally one of the Premier League’s smallest clubs in terms of size and honours, are soon set for a new era after announcing plans to expand their stadium from 11,286 seats to 20,196 seats.
