Andoni Iraola reacted to speculation surrounding Dominic Solanke amid transfer rumours and his absence for a pre-season friendly.
The transfer season is in full swing, and even the slightest absence of a player is likely to get a strong reaction elsewhere. Speculation surrounding Dominic Solanke is high at the moment, with the striker who scored 21 goals for Bournemouth last season a key commodity in this market.
Many clubs are looking at strikers, and since the window opened, Solanke has had many suitors enquiring. Bournemouth are confident of keeping him as they feel his £65 million release clause will prove too high for some of the interested clubs.
Some reports suggest the release clause is specific to the top-six clubs, although others would still need to pay a significantly high price to land him. Either way, Tottenham opened talks with the player’s camp as Ange Postecoglou wants a new frontman to bring something different to the final third, which could leave Richarlison’s future in doubt.
Spurs planned to make an offer far less than Bournemouth’s release clause. Hence, should Tottenham make a low-ball bid, the Cherries will not hesitate to turn it down as they seek the right price for their star striker, who scored 21 goals in all competitions under Andoni Iraola last season.
Solanke missed Bournemouth’s most recent pre-season friendly with Rayo Vallecano, which has fueled speculation about the 26-year-old’s future. However, Iraola has squashed rumour that his absence was due to transfer speculation and insisted the striker is carrying a foot injury, as he conceded on Sky Sports that such instances do give rise to transfer rumours and make it big.
Iraola said, “[It’s] nothing big [Solanke’s injury], just that he couldn’t put the boot on, and we decided obviously to [not risk him]. Even with other players, I hope they can play against Girona and we can see them. They are really close, they had some small issues, like Justin Kluivert and Lewis Cook.”
“With so many players and so many games it doesn’t make sense to take any risks and we decided like this.”
When asked about how an injury is perceived amid transfer speculation, the Spaniard responded: “It’s not in my control. I tell you what has happened and I’ve seen it happen. It’s the reality.”“It’ll probably make it bigger, but the truth is Dom came today and we decided it doesn’t make any sense to risk him in a friendly but it’s not a big injury, I’m not worried because he will be fine in three of four days.”
Solanke is not particularly pushing to move out of Bournemouth, although there’s a feeling he would be open to a move if the suitor can agree on terms with the Cherries. The striker has spent time before with Liverpool and then Chelsea, with the latter having also shown an interest earlier.
As things stand, Spurs are in the front seat of this chase, and much will depend on the money they are willing to offer for Solanke. As for Bournemouth, they do not need to sell their star man, having renewed his deal last September, meaning they have power in any negotiations and will demand the total value of his £65 million release clause to sell the forward.
