Chelsea, Liverpool ‘monitoring’ AFC Bournemouth midfielder Lewis Cook — report

AFC Bournemouth midfielder Lewis Cook recently told The Athletic that he and his long-time girlfriend “are really settled down here”, but that hasn’t stopped the Daily Mail from linking the 22-year-old with both Liverpool and Chelsea because both teams are “in the market for the best of emerging English talent”. And most would agree that Cook is certainly one of those — or was, before tearing his ACL back in December.

He’s made a fairly speedy recovery, returning to semi-regular action just nine months later last month, so now the question becomes if and how fast can he recover his previous promise and his “high energy style”. Apparently both the Reds and the Blues are “monitoring” his progress in view of a potential future bid. For whatever reason. Oh right, emerging English talent.

Given his age, his homegrown status, his apparent happiness at the club and in the city, and his contract that only expires in 2022, not to mention Chelsea’s well-stocked midfield, I don’t think Bournemouth are in any danger of losing him for anything less than a rather ridiculous sum. In fact, they’re probably in not much danger of losing him anytime soon — especially if they keep going well in the league — but the rumor’s out there, so now it’s here as well. Hurray!