It has been some journey for Dominic Solanke. From coming through the Chelsea academy to repping the giants of Liverpool.
It was a struggle for the 26-year-old at an early stage, scoring only one goal under Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, but he is now starting to show his worth in the colours of Bournemouth.
Ian Wright spoke about how Dominic Solanke was once ‘laughed at’, but now he is somebody who can do ‘everything’, as he told Premier League Productions (01/01/24 at 2:10 pm).
There are even some calls for him to join Arsenal, with Mikel Arteta’s side lacking firepower amid their push for the Premier League title.
Over the course of the season, the £19 million signing for Bournemouth has 12 Premier League goals from 19 matches.
Before that, he only has 10 league goals from 106 Premier League games. That’s a serious level of improvement from the player.
And rightly so, he is getting his flowers for his performances and, as a result, Ian Wright thinks he is the Player of the Season at the halfway stage.
Dominic Solanke – Player of the Season
“He can do everything,” said Wright. “Now what he has done is added those goals to his game. He is in those positions where he can now take his chances.
“I am really pleased for him because he is somebody that everybody laughed at. ‘This isn’t great and he is going backwards’.
“There were a lot of people laughing that he didn’t make it after he left Chelsea, massive noise that he is going to be the next one, then he went to Liverpool and it didn’t quite work out. He has taken his time at Bournemouth to get where he is. He never stops working – now we are seeing his numbers go up. Perfect.
He later added on his Player of the Season so far: “I have gone for Dominic Solanke and it’s because of his journey and what he has done. He has gone the hard way around to get to where he is now. He is showing people what he is capable of. A proper all-round centre-forward.”
Bournemouth should keep Dominic Solanke
Given the form of the Englishman, the interest in the player is now going to sky-rocket and it will test Bournemouth’s resolve.
Many will feel all that promise Solanke showed as a youngster is now starting to bear fruit and at the right time because he now has the experience to boot.
But the Cherries, if they want to progress up the Premier League table, need to do everything to keep hold of the player.
Andoni Iraola’s side are sitting 12th in the Premier League table and are only six points off European football.
Brighton showed last season that the impossible is possible, so why not for Bournemouth?!
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