Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, who had trouble with strikers in the last campaign, are both looking for a new No. 9. Spurs is still looking for a substitute for its all-time top scorer, Harry Kane, while Chelsea hasn’t had a reliable finisher since Didier Drogba and Diego Costa. Dominic Solanke of Bournemouth is currently in the spotlight, but is he worth the £65 million price tag? Of more significance, which club is a better fit for him?
Chelsea’s Case
Former Chelsea striker and talkSPORT analyst Tony Cascarino thinks Solanke would fit in better at Chelsea. “I am displaying my bias here, probably a little Chelsea,” he clarifies. I doubt a team will spend £65 million to acquire Dominic Solanke. He enjoyed an amazing season. You’ve had a fantastic season. In contrast to other elite strikers like Ollie Watkins, Cascarino doubts the consistency and durability of Solanke’s play despite his stellar season.
Despite his 19 Premier League goals in the previous season, Solanke was left out of the England squad for Euro 2024; Kane, Ivan Toney, and Ollie Watkins were chosen in his place. This exclusion begs the issue of whether he is ready for elite clubs.
Tottenham’s Financial Constraints
The £65 million price tag seemed high to Tottenham, especially in light of their other transfer targets. Spurs are reportedly close to paying £60 million for Eberechi Eze, therefore it seems doubtful that they would spend additional money on Solanke. The chairman of Tottenham, Daniel Levy, is renowned for his frugal spending, which might make a move for the Bournemouth striker even more difficult.
“There’s a much bigger picture there,” continues Cascarino. When considering Dominic’s entire career, you can see that he has progressed. He scored goals in the Championship, but in his early years, he didn’t really succeed at Liverpool. They didn’t think he was good enough, so they let him go.
Solanke’s Potential at Chelsea
Todd Boehly, a co-owner of Chelsea, on the other hand, seems more eager to make significant squad investments. Solanke’s transfer might be more possible at Stamford Bridge due of their financial flexibility. Solanke benefits from Chelsea’s track record of redefining player careers and giving them the stage on which to succeed.
While praising Solanke’s progress, Cascarino’s analysis takes a look at his entire career path. He states: “I still think it’s a lot of money for someone that if he had gone in and had two, three seasons scoring at huge amounts, like Ollie Watkins has got goals regularly year by year, increase regularly.” Consistent, high-level performance over multiple seasons is necessary to justify such a high fee.
Conclusion
Dominic Solanke is clearly a player on the rise, but it’s still unclear how much £65 million is worth him. A move is doubtful given Tottenham’s current financial approach and their interest in players like Eze. Conversely, Solanke might be able to flourish at a team prepared to invest in his potential if Chelsea is willing to spend in order to secure him.
In the end, Solanke’s next career move will be crucial to demonstrating his value at the top level of English football, regardless of whether he joins Chelsea or Tottenham.
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