Manor Solomon should finally complete his protracted move to Premier League newcomers Fulham this week with a £30,000-a-week, five-year deal agreed, as reported by Israeli publication Ynet.
A fleet-footed forward with Champions League goals against Atalanta, Manchester City and Real Madrid on his CV could, in theory at least, blossom into one of the finest pound-for-pound signings made by any Premier League club this summer. Especially if he lives up to those Eden Hazard comparisons in West London.
One things for sure, Fulham fans will be hoping he’s worth the wait.
It’s been nearly two months since Solomon appeared to confirm his impending switch to English football. It’s even longer since Fulham reportedly agreed a cut-price £7 million fee with Shakhtar Donetsk, the winger’s market value falling following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
But, after more ‘will-they, won’t-they’ moments than a drawn-out sitcom romance, it seems that Rachel and Ross, sorry, Fulham and Solomon are finally getting together. Ynet say that the one-time Arsenal target is ‘expected’ to be officially unveiled as a Fulham player before the beginning of July.
Solomon, the report adds, is prioritising a move to the Premier League above all other offers. That is despite interest from, amongst others, Torino and Nice. He will sign a five-year deal, worth around £30,000-a-week at Craven Cottage.
Fulham will finally land Manor Solomon
“In January, Shakhtar had an offer from Fulham for 18 million euros (£15 million),” the president of Solomon’s former club, Maccabi Petah Tikvah, said a few weeks back, expressing his frustration after missing out on a sizeable cash windfall via the sell-on clause in the 22-year-old’s contract.
“If they had sold him for that amount in January, and not as Fulham would pay now, then we would have had over a million and a half euros.”
And Yossi Benayoun, arguably the greatest Israeli footballer to grace the Premier League, is backing Solomon to emulate his impact on British shores.
“Hopefully he goes to the Premier League. This is the best league in the world and a leap forward for him,” says Benayoun, once of Liverpool, Chelsea and West Ham United.
“He has proven he is a player for the highest level. He needs to improve certain things but he belongs there. We know what his abilities are.
“Will he reach my level? It depends on the team. Fulham have only just gone up in the league. When I came to West Ham, it was also after promotion. We played offensive football and it served me well.
“Hopefully it will Manor as well.”
Fulham could also complete the signing of Sporting Lisbon’s Joao Palhinha this week.
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