Journalist Ben Jacobs has said that Tottenham target Dominic Solanke may not want to leave Bournemouth mid-season and jeopardise his chance of making the England squad for Euro 2024, but Spurs and Newcastle may make moves for him come the summer.
It is fair to say that most Spurs fans would have been flabbergasted if Solanke had been mooted as a target for the North London side last summer.
However, such has been the level of the 26-year-old’s performances this season that no one is surprised to hear Ange Postecoglou’s side are now looking at him.
It was reported by The Sun on December 25 that Tottenham are convinced the Bournemouth star has what it takes to succeed at a higher level and that the Lilywhites are considering a move for the player at the end of the season.
It appears Spurs are not the only ones to think that as The Telegraph revealed last week that Newcastle United have also enquired about the centre-forward’s availability.
January move unlikely for Dominic Solanke
Jacobs has now said that Solanke might be reluctant to leave the Vitality Stadium mid-season, opining that the striker will want to build on his good start to the season so that he is on the plane to Germany next summer.
Jacobs told GiveMeSport: “Bournemouth sources deny Newcastle have made an enquiry for Dominic Solanke, a player Magpies boss Eddie Howe actually signed. But Solanke is absolutely on a list of potential summer targets for Newcastle.
“I don’t think anything is possible in January. Bournemouth will resist a sale, and Newcastle can’t afford to buy now. Solanke is also thriving and stands a chance of a place at Euro 2024 on this form. It would be risky moving and disrupting his goalscoring rhythm.
“I expect Newcastle, and potentially Spurs, to try for Solanke in the summer. The downside for Solanke at Newcastle is Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson both play through the middle in a 4-3-3.
“Maybe Howe views Solanke as a Wilson replacement but, as long as he remains at the club, Solanke might worry about his game time or being played out of his preferred position.
“He has thrived in a 4-2-3-1 at Bournemouth, leading the line, and Newcastle might actually prove a tougher team, tactically speaking, to thrive in.”
Spurs Web Opinion
It is going to take a big offer to take Solanke away from the South Coast in January and Newcastle are not in a position to spend big, given their current FFP situation.
However, one cannot rule out another Premier League club making a late play for the 26-year-old this window, which might perhaps force Spurs to act.