Bournemouth Dream Team preview: top stars, smart options & potential flops

BOURNEMOUTH will participate in Europe for the first time in their history this coming season. Andoni Iraola guided the Cherries to Europa League qualification before his move to Liverpool and Marco Rose has taken his place in the dugout at the Vitality Stadium. PLAY DREAM TEAM NOW: £100,000 PRIZE POT! Rayan is an exciting prospect Credit: Dream Team Ahead of new the Dream Team campaign, let’s take a closer look at Bournemouth’s top stars, smart options and potential flops. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! TOP STARS First things first, Eli Junior Kroupi (£4m) would be the primary focus of this section if he was fully fit but, sadly, the gifted forward will not be available until November having undergone foot surgery in July. Thankfully, he’s not the only talented 20-year-old in the squad as Rayan (£3.5m) deserves suitable recognition too. Predominantly a right winger, the Brazil international is categorised as a midfielder in Dream Team but he may get some minutes through the middle as the season unfolds. Rayan averaged a goal or assist every 160 minutes in the Premier League last season and so his output could go through the roof this term as he’s likely to be a guaranteed starter. Another player who should benefit from a busier schedule is Adrien Truffert (£3.5m). Most read in Football Bournemouth barely felt the departure of Milos Kerkez (£4.5m) because their new No3 hit the ground running and ensured left-back remained a position of strength. The Frenchman featured in all 38 league games in 2025/26 and additional Europa League fixtures will give him a better chance of mixing it with defenders from Arsenal, Manchester City, etc. Truffert immediately looked at home in the Premier League following his transfer from Rennes Credit: PA It may be overly bold to name a new signing as a top star but we think the acquisition of Antonio Silva (£3.5m) from Benfica is a fantastic bit of business. The 22-year-old already has 20 caps for Portugal under his belt and has all the attributes required to follow in the footsteps of Illia Zabarnyi, Dean Huijsen and Marcos Senesi. SMART OPTIONS Justin Kluivert (£3.5m) missed half of 2025/26 with a knee injury and finished the campaign with just two goals to his name. Consequently, The Dutchman’s stock is low right now but Dream Team bosses would do well to remember that he scored 13 goals in 2024/25. If the 27-year-old has truly regained full fitness and match sharpness then he has the potential to be a highly effective differential — he might be first-choice penalty taker too. James Hill (£3m) is one of Bournemouth’s unsung heroes, appreciated by his own fans but underrated by neutrals. The reliable defender has played every single minute possible at club level since the turn of the year. Play Dream Team this season! £100,000 in prize money up for grabs in 2026/27 Free to enter Play in Mini Leagues against your mates £60,000 jackpot for the overall winner £1,000 prize for winning Gameweek 1 PLAY DREAM TEAM NOW! Kluivert will be hopeful of getting back to his best this season Credit: Getty POTENTIAL FLOPS Bournemouth have a litany of £3m midfielders who deserve heaps of praise for their contributions to the club’s rise but aren’t all that well suited to Dream Team: Tyler Adams (£3m), Ryan Christie (£3m), David Brooks (£3m), Lewis Cook (£3m) and Alex Scott (£3m). It may be that some or all of this crop become viable options this season but we advise hesitancy to begin with, especially with Manchester City (a) in Gameweek 1. Open to residents of UK and Rep of Ireland, 18+ only. T&Cs apply. Comment now