Tottenham Hotspur have smashed their transfer record to land Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke on a six-year deal. The 26-year-old put pen to paper on Friday after a medical, with the fee reported to be a staggering £65m.
It's a huge outlay for Spurs, but one that comes with high expectations.
Solanke enjoyed a breakout season at the Vitality Stadium, netting 19 Premier League goals as Bournemouth secured a comfortable mid-table finish. His all-round game has improved significantly under Andoni Iraola, with his pressing and defensive work-rate catching the eye.
A product of the Chelsea academy, Solanke spent time at Liverpool before finding his feet on the south coast. Liverpool will also benefit from the deal, pocketing a 20 per cent sell-on clause.
The Anglo-Nigerian is seen as the ideal replacement for Harry Kane, offering a blend of goalscoring prowess and physicality.
Spurs move casts doubt over Dominic Solanke's Nigeria future
Dominic Solanke's move to Tottenham Hotspur has added another layer of complexity to his international future.
The striker, who has long been courted by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has represented England at youth level and earned a senior cap for the Three Lions.
Despite his impressive goal-scoring exploits for Bournemouth last season, Solanke failed to make the cut for England's Euro 2024 squad.
However, with his move to a top Premier League club, his chances of breaking into the England setup could increase, making it even harder for Nigeria to convince him to switch allegiance.
The NFF have been keen on securing Solanke's services, but his previous decision to turn down Nigeria's advances, coupled with his progress in the English top flight, makes that aspiration increasingly challenging.
