Surprising many by spending close to £6m on a young Lys Mousset, AFC Bournemouth never really benefitted on the pitch from the expenditure, yet managed to make a profit when Sheffield United came knocking with £10m last summer.
The former France U21 international only managed to score five goals for the Cherries during his 71 appearances for the club (most of which were sub appearances); a figure he has already surpassed with the Blades after bagging six in his first 33 games.
The faith Chris Wilder has shown in him over the course of the campaign, even when he wasn’t scoring goals, hasn’t gone unnoticed down Mousset’s end, who is currently back in Normandy to see family and training with Le Havre to keep fit over the break.
Speaking to Paris-Normandie, the 24-year-old looked back on his first year at Bramall Lane.
He said: “They never really gave me a chance at Bournemouth. Everything changed for me [at Sheffield United], they play me, I feel good in the group and the fans are great. The stadium is far bigger than Bournemouth’s, who are a small club. The atmosphere, it’s crazy”.
Scoring against the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Everton early on, the striker also went through a rather lengthy dry spell, which wasn’t helped by a few family issues.
Mousset explained: “If I was less decisive at a certain point, it’s because I wasn’t great in my head. Because I didn’t play a lot for three years at Bournemouth, I fell victim to small injuries to my knee, my Achilles”.
As for his future, the forward is pretty sure he’ll be continuing next season at Sheffield United: “I think so yes. Either way, I’m happy over there”.
