Ange Postecoglou expects new signing Dominic Solanke to be fit enough to start Tottenham’s Premier League season opener against Leicester City, should he be selected.
Tottenham sign Dominic Solanke
While Postecoglou would have ideally wanted his top targets to arrive earlier in the summer, the Australian will be relieved that Spurs have managed to get the Solanke deal over the line.
The Lilywhites reportedly paid a club-record £65m fee to bring the Englishman through the door.
While some feel that the fee is too high for a player who has only had one outstanding season in the Premier League, Postecoglou believes that Spurs are getting the 26-year-old at the right stage of his career.
The Australian told Football.London about Solanke’s arrival: “We have got him at a really good time in his career. He has had to work his way back up which I always think is a good thing. Sometimes when careers go smoothly you wonder how people will handle setbacks but he had setbacks earlier in his career.
“He has fought his way back and has become a really good Premier League striker now. He is really keen to push on. He wants to improve and make an impact. I think it’s a great time for us to bring him in.”
Solanke could start for Spurs against Leicester
Postecoglou has previously spoken about wanting players who are keen to come to Spurs for the right reasons and the 58-year-old revealed that he sensed that his conversation with Solanke.
When it was pointed out to the Tottenham boss that the striker appeared quite enthusiastic about getting started at Hotspur Way, he said: “Yeah I think it’s important. Players certainly have options out there and you kind of want to understand the motivations for why a player would want to come to us.
“Since I spoke to him I got a real sense he had a really burning desire to take his football to another level and really challenge himself at a big club. Like I said, he is keen to make an impact and our job is to make sure we provide that platform for him.”
Postecoglou confirmed that he expects Spurs’ newest addition to be available for the trip to the King Power Stadium this month.
When asked if Solanke would be ready to start against the Foxes, he said: “Yeah, I don’t see any reason why he shouldn’t be. He’s played most of the preseason.
“Slight knock in the last game Bournemouth played, but, of course, we’ll have a look at him during the week. But I think that considering he’s done most of the pre-season, I see no reason why he wouldn’t be available.”
Spurs Web Opinion
With Richarlison only recently recovering from a long-term injury layoff, one would expect Solanke to lead the line against Leicester City.
If Ange feels that the striker might need another week to get fully up to speed, he can always use Kulusevski as the false nine.