Che Adams’ £15m transfer decision should be obvious amid Everton, Wolves, and Bournemouth interest

The exodus has hardly been unexpected. After suffering relegation in the most lacklustre of fashions last season, Southampton were always likely to face a run on their best and brightest this summer.

And so it has proven. The likes of Mohammed Salisu, Mislav Orsic, Ibrahima Diallo, and Mohamed Elyounoussi have already left the club, and could soon be joined by a smattering of other big names - including Romeo Lavia, James Ward-Prowse, and Duje Caleta-Car among others - if the transfer oracles are to be believed.

It is, in short, a tough time to be a Saint, and things could be about get tougher still with the potential departure of centre-forward Che Adams. The Scotland international is one of those players who seems to set up camp in the gossip columns every summer. Barely a window goes by without him finding himself on display, attracting admiring glances and garnering plenty of attention. This year is seemingly no different.

According to reports, the 27-year-old is in the middle of a three-way tussle between Premier League also-rans Everton, Wolves, and Bournemouth, with Adams entering the final year of his contract at St. Mary’s. It is suggested that the trio are hopeful that they can secure a ‘bargain’ deal for the ex-Birmingham City prodigy given his waning contract situation on the south coast, although it is unclear exactly how much of their original £15 million outlay Southampton might look to recoup at this stage.

Regardless, the Saints would reportedly be open to the prospect of an exit if a suitable offer was tabled, and Adams could well be a top flight player again before the market closes in a month’s time.

Now for the tricky part, where should the striker actually go? In Everton, Wolves, and Bournemouth, he boasts three potential suitors who are all facing pivotal campaigns for one reason or another.

For their part, the Toffees will be eager to make a break from the perpetual cycle of near-catastrophe that has been such a hallmark of their recent ventures, and Sean Dyche will be hoping that with a full summer of recruitment and rejuvenation under his belt, he can do just that.

Likewise, Julen Lopetegui will believe that his Wolves side can kick on in the coming months, using the signs of promise they showed last season as a solid foundation for growth. They are still lacking in certain areas, and replacing Ruben Neves will be a Herculian task, but of the three clubs here, they perhaps feel like the most anchored top flight presence.

And finally, we have Bournemouth; improbable survivors last term, keen to avoid the perils of second season syndrome this time around. New manager Andoni Iraola remains an unknown entity to many, but if he can live up to the hype that he generated during his time in La Liga, then the Cherries could be on the cusp of something big.

Really then, Adams’ preference may come down to his appetite for a gamble. At Everton, he would be walking into one of the most historic clubs in the country, but doing so in the knowledge that he is likely to face the serious prospect of a relegation battle.

With Wolves, survival feels more assured, and with their striking inadequacies he would surely be assured plenty of game time. This, then, might feel like the safest option.

But then we have Bournemouth, and their simmering ambitions. Iraola could, in all honesty, turn out to be a disaster. Or he could turn out to be a revelation. The reality is that we just don’t know at this stage, but there are reasons to be excited by the Cherries’ approach to the new campaign. Not only have they rolled the dice in the dugout, but they have made several statements of intent in the transfer market too; Hamed Traore, Romain Faivre, and Justin Kluivert all feel like signings that could elevate the squad to a whole new level.

If they play their cards right, this could be the start of the kind of slow and steady ascent that has served the likes of Brighton and Brentford so well in recent seasons - and Adams could well be a part of that process.

At the time of writing, Bournemouth have three out-and-out centre-forwards on their books - Antoine Semenyo, Kieffer Moore, and Dominic Solanke. In the case of Semenyo, he scored just once in 11 Premier League outings last term, and with regards to Moore and Solanke, Adams would represent a decently diverse alternative to their respective styles of centre-forward play.

There is, then, a space for him in this Bournemouth set-up, and one that would allow him to carve out his own niche if properly capitalised upon. Adams has proven that he can score goals in the top flight, and has often done so in spite of the struggles Southampton have faced.

Now, in the prime of his career, there is no reason why he can’t continue to thrive elsewhere. Bournemouth might be a risk, but it’s a risk that, were it to come off, could pay huge, huge dividends.