Bournemouth win chase for £19m Solanke
DOMINIC SOLANKE has joined Bournemouth from Liverpool in a permanent transfer worth at least £19million.
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe views the 21- year- old England international striker as an ideal replacement for Jermain Defoe, who is bound for Rangers.
Solanke had been on the brink of a move to Crystal Palace earlier in the week but the loan switch collapsed when interest from other clubs in a permanent transfer emerged.
Brighton, FA Cup third-round opponents at the Vitality Stadium today, were also keen but Bournemouth won the chase and confirmed the deal yesterday.
‘ It’s a good club to be at, especially for someone of my age,’ said Solanke, who fits Howe’s philosophy, which is built on quick and direct strikers and young and hungry home-grown players.
Bournemouth have also signed Nathaniel Clyne on loan for the rest of the season from Liverpool to cover injured full backs Adam Smith and Simon Francis.
Premier League rules prevent them from taking two players on loan from the same club and Howe was thrilled to land Solanke, who is still recovering from a slight hamstring problem.
Howe said: ‘Dominic is technically gifted, very athletic and has the physical profile that will give us something different in our front line.
‘ He has done very well for England at various age groups, has a huge amount of potential and I’m really excited about working with him.’
Solanke was named as the Player of the Tournament as England won the Under 20 World Cup in 2017 and has one senior cap, in a friendly against Brazil in November 2017.
He is a product of Chelsea’s academy and moved to Anfield when his contract expired at the London club 18 months ago.
Liverpool offered £ 3m and Chelsea wanted £10m in compensation and it took almost a year before a fee was settled confidentially, shortly before the case went to a tribunal.
The Merseysiders are about to bank a considerable profit on a player who started only five Premier League games for the club, scored one goal and has not made a senior appearance since May.