BOURNEMOUTH MIDFIELDER RYAN Fraser will be eligible to play just two more games for the south coast club after declining the offer of a contract extension.
The Premier League will restart this evening with Bournemouth in the relegation zone, 18th and level on points with West Ham and Watford in the places above.
Fraser, who has been linked with moves to Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, will see his contract expire on 30 June and the club this morning confirmed that he has declined an extension.
The 26-year-old has been training with the club and, if selected, would be eligible for Saturday’s match against Crystal Palace and next week’s visit to Wolves.
Eddie Howe’s side have successfully signed up Simon Francis, Andrew Surman, Artur Boruc and Charlie Daniels to short-term deals to cover the remaining nine matches of the 2019/20 season.
Anyone calling him selfish has to put themselves in his shoes. If he gets injured that jeopardises his salary at his new club. Has to put his livelihood first.
@#JUSTICE4NOEL: exactly. Hes good enough to move on with what is his career and is entitled to do so.
@#JUSTICE4NOEL: Im sure Bournemouth has looked after him throughout hes career there,but there is two sides to it,he is a key player for them and will be a massive loss with their fight against relagation.
@#JUSTICE4NOEL: He could be hit by a bus tomorrow. Poor form from him abandoning them in their current situation.
@Fergus O’Connor: it’s on them. His contract situation was known for years. It’s a two way street.
@Mick O’Donoghue: that’s harsh . They knew he was finished in June but covid has changed the landscape of this year and this season in particular . Not his fault but to put it all on them would be unfair .
Fraser has earned over 6.3 million euros since 2016 yet he feels he owes Bournemouth nothing
@Ronny Phelan: In the 2018/19 season, his goals/assists directly led to Bournemouth scoring 14 points (2 wins which would have been defeats, 3 wins which would have draws, and 2 draws which would have been defeats). These 14 points were the difference between Bournemouth staying up or being relegated by 3 points, which would have cost the club approx £100million.
@Brian: if he had played better more goals and assists they could of won the premiership
@Brian: that’s nonsensical, all the players contributed to the season, if he played the 38 games on his own your argument would hold
@Ronny Phelan: they let his contract run down. It’s on them. He’s at prime age.
@Ronny Phelan: what do you owe your employer? His contracts up can do as he pleases
@Ronny Phelan: The point was that he doesn’t “owe” them anything – entirely his choice whether he wants to sign an extension to his contract or not. And as has been previously stated, it’s not as if Bournemouth have suddenly become aware that he was out of contract – he has been free to speak to other clubs since January, prior to the pandemic
@Mel Roberts: I’m not a gifted soccer player so I’ll never know what it’s like to be in this young man’s position, but I’d like to think if an employer had reimbursed me as well as Ryan has been I’d have the decency to give them a dig out in a time of crisis
@Ronny Phelan: I suggest you look into what Bournemouth got fraser to do with his Aberdeen contract before your sympathy lays with them
@Brian: said like a true football hipster
@Bill Clay: In the 30+ years I’ve been watching the sport I’ve been called many things, but never a “football hipster” – Kudos!
@Ronny Phelan: pretty poor wages for a Premier league player. They rejected offers for him last year. I’d imagine it wouldn’t be beyond him to earn over 6 mil next year on a new contract.