Former Premier League ace Yossi Benayoun appears to have confirmed Manor Solomon’s impending £7 million switch to Fulham, speaking to Sport1 in his role as the Israeli national team’s sporting director.
It’s shaping up to be a very exciting week for Fulham fans. And not just because the Cottagers are now less than two months away from an opening day clash with Liverpool.
Not only do Fulham appear to have successfully hi-jacked Wolves’ £18 million move for Sporting Lisbon’s Portugal international Joao Palhinha – one of the finest defensive midfielders on the continent – they are also on the verge of sealing one of the summer’s most long-awaited transfer deals.
According to Sport5, Shakhtar Donetsk winger Solomon will head to Craven Cottage imminently, a will-he-won’t-he saga set for a happy ending. Solomon, formerly a target for Manchester City and Arsenal, will set Fulham back £7 million and should sign a long-term deal worth £25,000-a-week.
Can Fulham bound Manor Solomon emulate Yossi Benayoun?
“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 levels. He needs to improve certain things but he belongs there. We know what his abilities are.”
When pressed on whether Solomon can emulate his impact in England, arguably the greatest Israeli footballer of the 21st century points out that, when he joined the Premier League back in 2005, he arrived in similar circumstances at a newly-promoted West Ham outfit.
One who, like Marco Silva’s Fulham, play a forward-thinking brand of attacking football.
“Will he reach my level? It depends on the team,” adds Benayoun. “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.”
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