Bournemouth agree deadline day striker transfer with Solanke stance clear

01 February 2024 , 11:40

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Enes Unal is on the verge of joining Bournemouth (Image: Getty Images)

Bournemouth have agreed a loan deal to sign striker Enes Unal from Getafe - but have no intention of letting Dominic Solanke leave on deadline day.

The Cherries have been in the market to bring in a new centre forward and it's looking like Andoni Iraola has finally got a No.9, with Unal set to arrive on loan until the end of the season. According to Sky Sports, the deal has an obligation to buy for around £14million and he will undergo a medical before the window slams shut.

Unal, who scored 15 goals in 38 appearances for Getafe last season, has just returned to action after tearing his Anterior Cruciate Ligament during a game against Real Betis in May 2023. The Turkey international came on for the final 27 minutes of Getafe's 2-0 win over Granada - a game in which Mason Greenwood scored - on Monday.

However, due to the form of top scorer Borja Mayoral, Unal's game time may be limited between now and the end of the campaign. After surviving relegation by the skin of their teeth, Getafe currently sit 10th in La Liga, seven points off sixth-place Real Sociedad in the final European spot.

Unal will now have a second crack at the Premier League after failing to make an appearance during his time at Manchester City. Aged 18 at the time, he signed for Manuel Pellegrini's City in July 2015 for a reported £2m but was almost immediately sent on loan to Genk.

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After returning to City in January 2016, he joined NAC Breda on loan until the end of the season. He impressed at the Eerste Divisie side, scoring eight goals in 14 appearances which earned him another loan move, this time to FC Twente as he continued to learn and develop his career.

Enes Unal is set to sign for Bournemouth (Getty Images)

Having netted 18 times in 32 Eredivisie matches during the 2016/17 campaign, Unal left City after failing to make a single appearance. In August 2017, the striker moved to Villarreal for £12m with a buy-back clause inserted. Two months later, Unal joined Levante on an emergency loan until the end of the season.

He then spent two years out on loan at Real Valladolid, before moving to Getafe in August 2020 on a five-year contract. After a disappointing debut season, Unal has scored 31 goals in 76 matches since the start of the 2021/22 campaign and Bournemouth boss Iraola will be hoping he can rediscover his best form.

Dominic Solanke has scored 12 Premier League goals this season (Getty Images)

Unal's move to the Vitality Stadium has sparked rumours that Dominic Solanke could leave Bournemouth, with Tottenham, Manchester United and Arsenal on red alert. Solanke has netted 12 goals in 20 Premier League games this season and is the division's fourth highest scorer.

However, Sky Sports have reported that Solanke is 'going nowhere'. It's said Bournemouth haven't received any offers or approaches for the ex-Liverpool and Chelsea forward. The Cherries face West Ham at the London Stadium tonight, with Solanke set to start in the capital.

The Cherries' newest arrival could see another striker depart however. Kieffer Moore is attracting interest from the Championship and could be in the frame to depart before 11pm on Thursday night.

Kieran King