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Bournemouth to Offer £6 million for Tottenham’s Ryan Mason

By Alexander Balano

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 25: Ryan Mason of Tottenham Hotspur arrives at the stadium prior to kickoff during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and West Bromwich Albion at White Hart Lane on April 25, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 25: Ryan Mason of Tottenham Hotspur arrives at the stadium prior to kickoff during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and West Bromwich Albion at White Hart Lane on April 25, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images) /
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Tottenham Hotspur has a need at midfield, both at the central and defensive positions, but losing Ryan Mason wouldn’t be bad business for a good price of £6 million.

Tom Collomosse of the London Evening Standard is reporting that AFC Bournemouth are looking to sign Tottenham midfielder, Ryan Mason, for £6 million, as Cherries’ manager, Eddie Howe, looks to strengthen his squad for next season.

Related Story: Who Lines Up for Tottenham Against Southampton?

With Mason suffering a couple of injuries this season and the emergence of both Dele Alli and Mousa Dembélé helping Tottenham achieve second place, Bournemouth believes that they could snag the England international who could be looking for a change of scenery to help jump-start his career once again after being a late bloomer.

Although he has been with Spurs for his entire career and is Tottenham through-and-through, Ryan Mason had to spend four loan spells in the Football League and one in France with Lorient, before he was able to crack into the first team at the age of 23.

Mauricio Pochettino played a huge part in helping Mason ascend the depth chart — mostly because he sold quite a few central midfielders in the first place during his first year as manager — but after getting a chance to show what he could do, Ryan Mason played well enough to get a contract extension in January 2015.

That deal ensured he had a future at Tottenham. For now though.

BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - NOVEMBER 26: Afran Ismayilov of Qarabag FK ?hallenged by Ryan Mason of Tottenham Hotspur FC during the UEFA Europe League match between Qarabag FK and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Tofig Bahramov Republican stadium on November 26, 2015 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Epsilon/Getty Images)
BAKU, AZERBAIJAN – NOVEMBER 26: Afran Ismayilov of Qarabag FK ?hallenged by Ryan Mason of Tottenham Hotspur FC during the UEFA Europe League match between Qarabag FK and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Tofig Bahramov Republican stadium on November 26, 2015 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Epsilon/Getty Images) /

But truth be told, at 24-years-old, Ryan Mason isn’t a starting caliber central midfielder for Tottenham. He’s not bad per se, but he’s not good either. He’s somewhere in the middle; he’s okay.

At best, he could start in cup competitions and when Tottenham have multiple fixtures lined up with only two or three days of rest in-between games.

That doesn’t mean he won’t give it his all every single time he is on the pitch, but Spurs could definitely do better to upgrade the midfield position as a whole.

Tom Carroll and Harry Winks should hopefully get their opportunities as well to show that they belong in Mauricio Pochettino’s squad, but as for Mason his time could be coming to an end with Tottenham.

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To have a team be interested in one of Spurs’ players shows that Pochettino’s hard work is being recognized after two years on the job.

For a player like Ryan Mason to be wanted by anyone — and a club who is willing to offer £6 million for a backup player? — that offer is too good to pass up. Even if Tottenham shouldn’t sell players at a position of need.

That being said, the London Evening Standard article believes that Tottenham would want a bit more in return after successfully getting £12 million for Andros Townsend this past January.

Should Ryan Mason part ways with his boyhood club after making his first team debut just a year ago, Tottenham could be looking at a player exchange deal for Bournemouth’s Callum Wilson to help get a backup for Harry Kane.

The 24-year-old forward started the season off well by scoring five goals in six matches before suffering knee ligament damage and returning to Eddie Howe’s starting eleven just last week.

Spurs are looking for strikers and wide-attacking players along with central midfielders according to Tom Collomosse, so it wouldn’t be surprising if Callum Wilson’s name is on Mauricio Pochettino, Daniel Levy and Paul Mitchell’s radar.

Next: West Ham Apparently Have Yet to Bid for Tottenham Target

Whatever ends up happening, despite a need at central midfield, Tottenham can’t pass up on an opportunity to get some money for a player who will most likely continue to be nothing more than a backup player for Mousa Dembélé even though he will be suspended for six games.

And right now, Mason’s biggest test is to impress at home against Southampton this Sunday, May 8th. If he doesn’t do well in the six games that Dembélé is gone, then the decision should be easy.

Sell Ryan Mason and get £6 million (or more) from Bournemouth.