Manor Solomon insists he has no plans to extend his contract at Shakhtar Donetsk after Arsenal lodged a £17 million bid for the gifted winger and Aston Villa also showed interest, speaking via Sport5.
Despite scoring just two goals in their first five games of the season – only one from open play – Mikel Arteta isn’t exactly lacking in the creativity department.
Emile Smith Rowe, Martin Odegaard, Nicolas Pepe, Gabriel Martinelli and the electrifying Bukayo Saka would walk into the vast majority of top-flight sides without breaking sweat.
And with the Gunners arguably in greater need of a full-back or commanding, box-to-box midfielder – one in the mould of a Denis Zakaria or Bruno Guimaraes perhaps – it remains to be seen whether Arsenal will come calling again for want-away Solomon when the transfer window reopens in January.
Do Arsenal really need Manor Solomon, are Aston Villa still interested?
Reports coming out of Ukraine claim Arsenal submitted a £17 million bid for the spring-heeled 22-year-old in the transfer window, only for Shakhtar to reject the offer out of hand.
Yet Solomon would relish the prospect of a move to one of Europe’s biggest clubs, reluctant as he is to extend a contract due to expire in 2023.
“I explained to (Shakhtar) my main goal. I really like the club and the city but I explained to them my dream is to go to the biggest leagues and they understand that,” says the Israel international, who scored two of his nine goals last season against Real Madrid in the Champions League.
“I have to continue to lead the team and, in the next year and a half, they will agree to sell me.
“If money had been my priority for a long time, I would have signed a new contract with Shakhtar. But my first priority is football – first of all to get as far as possible and only then the money.
“Money is important but football and the dream comes first. No matter how much money I get, I won’t go to places like China or Dubai because I want to reach the highest level.
“I’m only 22 years old and that’s what I’m aiming for.”
Solomon was also linked with Aston Villa before the Midlands giants paid £31 million to bring in Leon Bailey from Bayer Leverkusen.
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