Dominic Solanke’s form has been one of the surprises of the Premier League season.The 26-year-old Bournemouth striker has scored 12 goals in 18 games so far, including five in the last three games. He’s already doubled his previous major league best, and it’s not even January yet.In the list of the best scorers in the Premier League, only the Englishman Erling Haaland has scored more goals than the Englishman Mohamed Salah.
Solanke’s record 12 league appearances equal Liverpool’s current trio of Darwin Nunes, Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo combined. Just six months out from the European Championship, Solanke’s form has been clearly noticed by Gareth Southgate, who made his debut as a forward in a friendly against Brazil in 2017.For Solanke, who once considered himself a player caught between the top flight and the Championship, this was an unthinkable reality.
Former Liverpool player Andoni Iraola, who scored once at Anfield, looks set to lead the side to ninth in the Premier League. Arsenal are eyeing Solanke as Ivan Toni’s replacement until January, according to a report.Should the 26-year-old make a big move in the near future, Liverpool would be second in line for any deal that could net him millions.
As reported by the Liverpool Echo, sporting director Michael Edwards negotiated a 20% sale plus a £19m fee and further options for the forward to join Bournemouth in 2019 as part of the deal. The deal has long been regarded as one of the shrewdest moves by the former Liverpool transfer boss, representing an incredible return on investment for the player who moved to Anfield from Chelsea for a court fee of around £3million.Furthermore – and perhaps more interestingly – the same Echo report claims that, in addition to the sell-on clause, Liverpool retain the option to buy Solanke. It was not said how much United could offer to enforce the clause or when it would expire.
However, the addition of such a clause is interesting and shows that Liverpool still value Solanke’s potential, even as the youngster struggles to break into Jurgen Klopp’s first team.The Bournemouth forward joined the Reds in the summer of 2017 after winning England’s Under-20 World Cup in South Korea and winning the Ballon d’Or, awarded to the tournament’s best player.
Solanke made five Premier League starts in one season under Klopp and scored the club’s only goal in a 4-0 win over Brighton on the final day of the 2017/18 season. He joined Bournemouth that summer and is currently in his sixth season with the Cherries.
