West Ham United recently approached Bournemouth over a possible move for Dominic Solanke, with the Cherries knocking back the enquiry.
According to a report by Bournemouth Echo, Dominic Solanke is the subject of interest from West Ham United. And the Hammers have submitted an enquiry for the 25-year-old Bournemouth striker. But the Cherries have rebuffed West Ham’s approach over a move in the ongoing transfer window.
Dominic Solanke spent his formative years with Chelsea and was among the most promising young strikers in England. The English striker took age-group football by storm in his homeland while also delivering the goods on the international stage. But after a loan spell at Vitesse Arnhem, he chose to leave Chelsea to seek a quick pathway to first-team football.
The 25-year-old joined Liverpool, only for the move to Anfield to not work out. And after 18 frustrating months at the Merseyside club, he joined Bournemouth in January 2019. Since then, Solanke has made gradual progress while being a regular for the Cherries. And he was a pivotal figure for them in their return campaign in the Premier League.
Solanke took some time to get going but produced some game-changing performances. And he ended the 2022/23 season by contributing to 14 goals in 35 appearances, finding the back of the net seven times while providing seven assists. The Englishman’s progress has not gone unnoticed, with West Ham United among his prospective suitors.
West Ham United will look to sign a striker in the ongoing transfer window after a sub-par offensive record last season. They will lose Gianluca Scamacca to Atalanta, while Michail Antonio is also facing an uncertain future at the London Stadium. That will leave Danny Ings as the only recognised striker at David Moyes’s disposal.
Several strikers, including M’Bala Nzola, have thus emerged on West Ham’s radar. And Solanke is also a viable target, considering his experience in the Premier League. So it is hardly surprising that the Hammers have submitted an enquiry to Bournemouth for the 25-year-old Englishman. But the Cherries have knocked back the approach.
Bournemouth will unlikely entertain offers to sell Solanke, and the stance makes sense. Andoni Iraola cannot lose one of his pivotal players so close to the 2023/24 season. And it will be interesting to see if West Ham will set sights on an alternative to the 25-year-old Englishman.