Solanke

Should Arsenal go for this cut price alternative to Ivan Toney?

A new striker is expected to join Arsenal during the winter transfer window. For the past few months, pundit after pundit has claimed that Arsenal’s failure to recruit a striker during the winter transfer window is criminal. The ineffective attack in the first half of the 2-0 win over Brighton and the 1-0 loss to Aston Villa, where they missed numerous chances, are clear indications that they need to sign a clinical striker.

If you ask any Gunners fan who they think will join, he’ll most certainly say Brentford’s Ivan Toney. But sometimes you don’t get what you want, and even if Arsenal expects to sign Toney, they are aware that, as they failed to recruit Mykhailo Mudryk last winter, they may be unlucky and may fail to sign the Brentford man.

Having said that, it has been claimed that Arsenal are interested in Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke as an alternative for Toney, which I feel is a move they should pursue in order to avoid the Toney transfer battle (and also to avoid playing for a player whose form is not guaranteed after months of not playing due to a betting ban).

The scouts should be applauded for discovering such a transfer opportunity, which they could complete on the cheap and still go ahead with a move for a good midfielder like Douglas Luiz. I’m not sure whether you’ve watched Solanke, but I think he’s underrated. The Bournemouth man is a handful for defenders and a clinical finisher.

This season, Dominic Solanke has nine Premier League goals. Only three other players have scored more. Some people don’t fancy him, perhaps because of preconceived notions from his time at Liverpool and Chelsea. But he is technically appealing, a great ball striker, and dominates middle spaces with nice back-to-goal play and top-angle manipulation.

In fact, Solanke can join on a swap deal. If Mikel Arteta feels the need to also bolster the defense other than signing a top central midfielder, there is speculation that they may also buy two full-backs.

With speculation of Nketiah being sacrificed for a striker in the winter, why can’t he be offered to Bournemouth in exchange for Solanke? Arsenal may get what they want from Solanke, while the Cherries may get what they want from Nketiah. I believe Solanke may improve Arsenal’s attack. If he does, well, there will be no need to recruit another elite striker for a while; if he does not, Arsenal can sanction a summer move for Victor Osimhen, or even Toney if he will still be at Brentford.

Darren N


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Tags Dominic Solanke

12 Comments

  1. Toney just doesn’t appeal to many of us, more so coming at a cost of £100 million. There are a lot of younger, more versatile, strikers in the mold of Drogba like, Osihmen in leagues around the world.
    It’s well known that Mikel will not look at anyone out of Africa which is why he chose Havertz over Kudus, who actually preferred Arsenal.

    1. What makes you think “it’s well known that Mikel will not look at anyone out of Africa”? He signed Partey and has kept Elneny in the squad, so please enlighten us.

      1. Elneny is is a bit part player. As a Nigerian I hate the scheduling of AFCON but there is nothing we can do about it due to the rainy season in June/ July in Africa. It is not ideal having more than one African player in our team. For now, Partey and Elneny are enough.

    2. I think toney could win us the league, actually. Could just give us the boost we need for the second half of the season, and he’ll be fresh. I’m not so confident I’d support paying 100m for him, though. If a more reasonable fee could be negotiated, given his age and recent issues, I’d go for it, personally

    3. Osimhen certainly would cost at least 100m – he’d be great, but I’m not sure we can afford him, and I’m not sure he’d leave in January

  2. Solanke is a decent striker and would add something different to our attack i.e Ariel presence however I think the club will aim higher with respect to the player.

    I would also be shocked if Eddie is sold next month because he is rated by the Manager and even if to my surprise the club were willing to cash in on him I could actually see him refusing to leave as he loves the club and believes he is good enough to be apart of the squad.

  3. Solanke has never quite lived up to the early promise he showed at Chelsea years ago – it could be that he’s finally turned the corner and is ready to step up, or he could be going through a purple patch. I’d wait a bit longer before taking a chance on him, but he is the type of striker who could make a difference here. Wouldn’t expect him to be cheap though; he’s doing well this season.

  4. Solanke is NOT Arsenal quality and definitely NOT the answer to our need for a top quality striker

    He is merely decent in a poor Bournemouth team . But MA will very plainly indeed NOT be trying to get him, I am relieved to be able to say!

  5. Solanke can sign for Arsenal but that doesn’t mean arsenal should sell Nketiah. Instead of Nketiah, I would sell Jesus.

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