Bournemouth: Rayan, Kroupi Jr, Scott - Who will be Andoni Iraola's next big star after Antoine Semenyo sale?
Following Antoine Semenyo's £62.5m sale to Manchester City, Andoni Iraola will be looking to the next, newest star from the Bournemouth talent production line; watch West Ham vs Bournemouth on Saturday, live on Sky Sports Premier League; kick-off 5.30pm
Thursday 19 February 2026 16:27, UK
The sale of Antoine Semenyo to Manchester City in January saw Bournemouth's transfer income since the summer of 2024 surpass the £300m mark.
Dominic Solanke, Milos Kerkez and Dean Huijsen are among the high profile names to have moved on from the Vitality Stadium and commanded big fees to do so.
Big shoes were left to be filled and, despite a mid-season stumble, the Cherries find themselves back in the top half of the table and may still harbour hopes of European qualification despite the squad upheaval they've had to undergo.
Ahead of their trip to West Ham, live on Sky Sports, the question still remains as to who will take centre stage and become Andoni Iraola's next breakout star?
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Two men poised to become next Semenyo?
The latest challenge facing Iraola this campaign is trying to replace the impact of the recently departed Semenyo. Ten goals and three assists made him the most productive player at the Spaniard's disposal by some distance this season, and filling the void may well take more than one person.
Luckily, it appears already that two players are ready to make the step up.
A little under half of the money the club recouped from the Semenyo deal was splashed on on Brazilian starlet Rayan. And though it's early days, it seems to be money well spent.
Two goals and an assist in his first three Premier League games is an astounding start for a player adjusting to life in English football and who doesn't turn 20 until August.
While the sample size is small, the numbers show that in multiple different areas, he has been able to compete with the league's best forwards statistically at both ends of the pitch. He ranks in the top five for chances created, expected assists and possesions won in the final third, while also featuring in the top 10 for attempts and final third passes.
It's very early days, but the signs are there that he could be the one to step into the spotlight. Although, one of his team-mates may have something to say about that.
While it was Semenyo taking the headlines, Eli Junior Kroupi was acting as a very reliable understudy and may have his eyes set on the leading role.
The French youngster has eight Premier League goals in his first season in the competition, the most of any player currently available to Iraola. That is despite the fact he has started less than half of his 21 games.
While he may lack the creative nouse that Semenyo possessed, in front of goal, he is more than comparable.
It may be too soon to suggest that either Rayan or Junior Kroupi can immediately take over from Semenyo, but the combination of the pair of them may be enough as they continue to develop into household names in their own right.
Scott in line to replicate Anderson's step up
The signs have been there for Alex Scott to develop into a future England international. The 22-year-old received his first call up for the Three Lions in November, though he has been made to wait for his first cap.
While his defensive data is comparable with the best in his position in the league, he is a little more off the pace in possession. The leading light across many of these categories can give him something to aim for.
Elliot Anderson is a player that Scott knows all too well, and he has been one of many to praise the Nottingham Forest star's development into one of the top performing all-round midfielders. With Anderson 23 and Scott 22, they are at similar stages of their career. And the Cherries man could be primed to make a similar step up in level.
Looking at the stats, Scott finds himself performing at a very similar level to what Anderson was at last season. In many areas, there is little to nothing to separate the two.
Creatively is where there appears to be the biggest difference. with Scott some way behind where Anderson was last term in the case of chance creation. But off the ball, they go back and forth, and much of their overall play in possession is neck and neck.
Should Scott be able to take a similar leap to Anderson in the coming weeks and months, fans may witness a type of all action midfield player at the level that - for all their impressive recruitment in recent times - Bournemouth have never quite got their hands on before.
Future defensive stars
The backline is where Bournemouth were most impacted in the summer. Three of their four main men have left the club, one of those being the aforementioned Kerkez to Liverpool.
While the Hungarian has had a stop-start beginning to life at Anfield, his replacement has had anything but. Adrien Truffert was another name new to English football in the summer, but he has excelled since his move from Stade Rennais.
His performances have eclipsed that of his predecessor this season, and he has made more overlapping runs this season than any other player.
Iraola has challenged him to add more end product to his game, with the 24-year-old only registering one assist thus far, but he has already stepped into the shoes left by Kerkez.
Perhaps where the Cherries are still reeling is in the heart of defence. Huijsen and Illia Zabarnyi became a formidable partnership last season as Bournemouth kept eight clean sheets in the league. That total currently stands at six for this term, with Marcos Senesi being partnered by the likes of James Hill and Bafode Diakite throughout the campaign.
However, it is someone waiting in the wings that is perhaps the biggest one to watch. Serbian Veljko Milosavljevic may have only made seven appearances in the Premier League since his summer arrival, but having found himself back in the squad following a knee injury, he will be hoping to pick up more minutes in the coming weeks.
Interestingly, his start to life at Bournemouth has mirrored that of Zabarnyi and Huijsen. Per 90 minutes, Milosavljevic leads the way in tackles, clearances and finds himself in between the two when it comes to aerial duels and challenges lost.
On the ball is where Milosavljevic needs the most work to catch up to the pair who came before him, though he is playing more final third passes that Zabarnyi, suggesting he is more progressive in possession than the Ukrainian.
At six-foot-three, the 18-year-old is already a commanding presence and is certainly one, if he adjusts to English football, to keep a close eye on.
