Manchester City superstar Kevin de Bruyne knows a talented attacking midfielder when he sees one.
And arguably the finest in his position anywhere in world football believes that Leeds United might have pulled off something of a coup during the final few days of the summer transfer window.
De Bruyne went head-to-head with Manor Solomon as Manchester City faced off with Shakhtar Donetsk in the group-stages of the 2019/20 Champions League.
The latter got the better of the former on that occasion too, firing home an equaliser at the Etihad Stadium just moments before De Bruyne was subbed off by Pep Guardiola.
And, with De Bruyne’s Belgium hosting Solomon’s Israel in Friday night’s Nations League opener, any hopes the visitors may have of emulating that famous Shakhtar draw away to Man City five years ago could rest on Solomon’s slender shoulders.
Kevin de Bruyne a big fan of Leeds United’s Manor Solomon
After an injury hit 2023/24 campaign, the Tottenham Hotspur loanee made one hell of a first impression on his Leeds debut during last week’s 2-0 win over Hull City.
The silky, swivel-hipped Solomon, then, heads into the international break with his fitness restored and his form returning.
“I know Manor Solomon from the Premier League,” De Bruyne says, via One. “From Fulham, Tottenham, and now he has moved to Leeds.
“He has the qualities to play at this level. He is an excellent player.”
De Bruyne, who should earn his 106th cap against Ran Ben Shimon’s team, also singled out Oscar Gloukh as another of Israel’s dangermen.
Linked with Tottenham, Celtic and Rangers not so long ago, is now honing his talents at a Salzburg side who have proven consistently – see Erling Haaland, Sadio Mane and Dominik Szoboszlai – that Red Bull does indeed give you wings.
“I also know Oskar Gloch,” adds De Bruyne. “We saw clips from Israel’s games, both defensively and offensively. This is a new team. There are qualities in Israel and we will try to create problems for them”.
“Israel is a team with a new coach. They only played two games with him against Belarus and Hungary, so it’s not easy to say too much,” adds Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco, agreeing with De Bruyne about the identity of Israel’s greatest threats.
“(I can) mention here players who have played at the highest levels. For example, Manor Solomon and Oskar Gloch as well as other players.
“They come hungry and brave, and it seems they want to play football even when they are pressed.”
Tottenham loanee offsets Georginio Rutter departure
Solomon, a target for Aston Villa and West Ham before joining Tottenham back in 2023, is a Champions League-level footballer now plying his trade in the Championship.
That dazzling Hull display was a tantalising glimpse into what the 25-year-old – who joined alongside £10 million Largie Ramazani – is a capable of. He is perhaps one of few players available to Leeds who could turn out to be an upgrade on the departed Georginio Rutter or Crysencio Summerville.
“I thought Solomon was man of the match to be honest with you,” former Leeds coach Neil Redfearn told BBC Radio Leeds, the summer signing a stand-out during a game in which Mateo Joseph and Joel Piroe hit the net.
“He’s got a quality that’s better than this level. You can see that. In the first 20 minutes, it was like tackling smoke. He was unplayable at times.
“Solomon and (Wilfried) Gnonto have both got the ability to get out of tight areas. I like Solomon a lot and I can see him as a ten because I think he’s clever enough.”
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