Could Scott Parker's brother-in-law be joining him in the Premier League?

Bournemouth FC are not particulary a team underwhelmed with famous links to perhaps more illustrious next-of-kin. For instance Surinamese midfielder Lorenzo Davids is the cousin of the recent Barnet acquisition Edgar Davids. Not to mention their current number 10 being Charlie Sheringham, son of legendary Manchester United and Millwall striker Teddy.

But another of their players counts a very famous brother-in-law among his relatives. Central midfielder Harry Arter is younger brother to Cary Parker, the wife of Tottenham Hotspur and England midfielder Scott Parker and by the looks of things the 22-year-old may be on the path to joining him in the Premier League.

Arter scored in Bournemouth’s win over League One leaders Tranmere Rovers at the weekend and after seeing the back of Paul Groves he will certainly get plenty of chances to reach his potential under Eddie Howe, the manager who plucked him from non-league obscurity with Woking two years ago.

Howe is a firm believer in his talents and believes the upbringing he had at Charlton Athletic, the former club of his brother-in-law Scott has played a massive part in what makes him such a talented individual and to see him scoring gave the former Burnley manager even more excitement.

He believes it is the only area missing from his game and if he continues to pick up the occasional goal it will make Harry the ‘complete midfielder’. Harry Redknapp, who is currently working as an advisor at Dean Court, is also reportedly a big fan of the rumbustious midfield maestro who unavoidably has earned comparisons to Scott Parker. Now it seems he may be moving on to pastures new as teams from up the footballing pyramid are reportedly chasing up his talents. 

With Championship clubs scrambling teams from the Premier League should not be so naïve to think he does not have the talent to be competitive at the highest level of English football. His fitness levels are extremely high and he is physically capable of playing at that level. While suggesting he could join Parker at White Hart Lane may be slightly off the cuff and fanciful there is no reason why he could not thrive at clubs such as Reading, Southampton or Norwich in their fight against relegation.

For now Bournemouth will do their utmost not to let him go but it could be a day not so far in the future when Harry Arter plays in the same league as Scott Parker.

Here is speaking after the game, and he does bare a remarkable resemblance to his brother-in-law…

image: © Ronnie Macdonald