Arsenal line up £50m Dominic Solanke transfer deal as alternative to Ivan Toney

16 December 2023 , 22:45

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Arsenal line up £50m Dominic Solanke transfer deal as alternative to Ivan Toney

Arsenal are lining up a move for Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke as an alternative to No.1 transfer target Ivan Toney.

Brentford striker Toney is still Mikel Arteta's priority ahead of the January transfer window, but £50million-rated Solanke has emerged as a backup option after impressing the Gunners. London rivals Tottenham and Chelsea are also keen on snapping up Toney, who Brentford are desperate to keep hold of in January, especially due to star Bryan Mbeumo suffering a serious injury which is expected to rule the French forward out for the next 12 weeks.

As reported by the Daily Star, Arsenal will refuse to pay over the odds for the 27-year-old, whose eight-month suspension for a total of 232 breaches of the FA's gambling rules ends on January 17. Should the Gunners be forced to abandon their hopes of signing Toney, then Arteta will push for Solanke following his nine goals in 19 appearances this season, including a strike in Bournemouth's famous 3-0 win away to Manchester United last Saturday.

Arsenal's recruitment team are believed to have been impressed by the former Liverpool and Chelsea prospect's all-round performances and think there's more to come. West Ham could also launch a January move, themselves admirers of the hard-working Solanke. Bournemouth are pragmatic about his situation, valuing him at £50m with two weeks until the window opens.

The 26-year-old was recently recommended to struggling United by ex-midfielder Owen Hargreaves, who's convinced that Solanke will get another chance at the top. "I would take him at Manchester United, all day." Hargreaves told Premier League Productions. "At Chelsea, he was the prized academy player. He went to Liverpool with that brilliant front three. That generational front three. He was never going to break into that.

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Dominic Solanke has been in fine form for Bournemouth this season (Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)

"But I think he would have learnt and been mentored from [Roberto] Firmino, [Sadio] Mane and [Mohamed] Salah. We saw it with Wilf [Zaha] when he went to Manchester United. He wasn't ready. He was too young.

"I think now Solanke, he will get another big move. Whether it's Man United or not. But to get a kid that big and technically that good, who is smart enough, can run the channels and press. He will get another chance at the top, I am certain."

Nathan Ridley