Bournemouth Premier League Odds: Iraola to keep Cherries calm

Andoni Iraola enjoyed a successful second season at AFC Bournemouth, taking the South Coast side from 12th in 2023/24 to ninth last term, but the Cherries have been picked off this summer, with several stars departing Vitality Stadium. So, the question is: can the Spaniard keep things trending upwards?

Below are Betfred's Bournemouth Premier League Odds, including their top six and top-10 finish odds, as well as a discussion on their summer business and who their key player is likely to be.

There was skepticism in some quarters over the appointment of Iraola as Gary O'Neil's successor in the summer of 2024, but after a sticky start, the former Rayo Vallecano boss established a reputation as one of the Premier League's most forward-thinking tacticians, steering the Cherries to a club-record 48 points, which they beat by six points last season.

However, Bournemouth have seen their defence decimated this summer, with centre-back duo Dean Huijsen (Real Madrid) and Illia Zabarnyi (Paris Saint-Germain) sold alongside left-back Milos Kerkez (Liverpool). On-loan goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga also returned to his parent club, Chelsea, before being sold to Arsenal.

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Djordje Petrovic (Chelsea) and Adrien Truffert (Stade Rennais) have been brought in as replacements for Kepa and Kerkez, respectively, while Bafode Diakite (Lille OSC) will fill one of the centre-back voids left by Huijsen and Zabarnyi.

The Cherries are still a man light in the middle of defence, though, while Iraola may want to freshen things up a little in midfield and attack, although Hamed Junior Traore (AJ Auxerre) and Eli Junior Kroupi (FC Lorient) have returned from successful loans in France and could be kept on this season to provide competition to the likes of Antoine Semenyo, Justin Kluivert and Evanilson in attack.

Transfer Business:

In: Bakode Diakite (Lille OSC), Djordje Petrovic (Chelsea), Adrien Truffert (Stade Rennais).

Out: Illia Zabarnyi (Paris Saint-Germain), Dean Huijsen (Real Madrid), Milos Kerkez (Liverpool), Jaidon Anthony (Burnley), Mark Travers (Everton), Joe Rothwell (Rangers), Neto (Botafogo), Max Aarons (loan, Rangers), Daniel Jebbison (loan, Preston North End).

Key Player: Evanilson

Kluivert (12) and Semenyo (11) were Bournemouth's two highest goalscorers in last season's Premier League, and the latter was heavily linked with a move elsewhere this summer before signing a new contract with the Cherries.

A third Bournemouth player, Evanilson (10), got into double figures, too, and it's the Brazilian centre-forward who I'm championing as their most influential player in 2025/26.

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The 25-year-old became the club's record signing in a £40.2m deal from FC Porto in the summer of 2024, replacing Dominic Solanke, who had struck 19 Premier League goals in the 2023/24 campaign before being lured to north London by Tottenham Hotspur.

Evanilson made a slow start to life on the South Coast, but eventually showcased his talents, and in an injury-disrupted season, 10 league goals, alongside two FA Cup strikes in as many appearances, was pretty good going.

If he can get 15+ this season, that would go a long way to the Cherries achieving another mid-table finish.

Prediction: 11th

While this represents a drop-off from 2024/25, I think this would mark another successful season for Bournemouth, who have lost four-fifths of their defence.

Keeping Semenyo was key, and his presence in the side, along with Evanilson, Kluivert and the rest of the supporting cast, should ensure the Cherries aren't lacking for goals.

But reorganising a defence is difficult, and they may suffer, particularly early on in the campaign.

Still, I back Iraola to eventually get to grips with his back line, and guide his team to another mid-table finish.

Offers

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