Whenever a player is banging in the goals elsewhere, questions tend to be asked about the club who sold him. But for Liverpool, it is understandable why a man who has 17 in 32 games this season found opportunities so hard to come by at Anfield.
Jurgen Klopp, after all, had Mo Salah, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, Divock Origi and Danny Ings at his disposal. Was there a better selection of forwards anywhere in European football back in 2017/18?
And while some will argue that one of the most improved centre-forwards in the English game would be a useful member of Klopp’s squad these days, it’s doubtful that he’d have developed quite so impressively without access to the sort of regular first-team football that would likely have remained out of reach at Anfield.
Dominic Solanke, per reports, is valued at around £50 million today. Should AFC Bournemouth look to sell amid rumours of interest from Arsenal, Newcastle and West Ham United – not that there is any indication that they are – the Cherries would stand to make a more-than £30 million profit on a striker who started only five Premier League games in Liverpool colours.
Former Liverpool man Dominic Solanke in top form
Scoring once in 27 Liverpool games and enduring a sluggish start to life at Bournemouth after joining five years ago, there were some concerns that a man who had such a remarkable record at youth level with Chelsea would end up becoming one of those classic cases of ‘wasted potential’.
No one could accuse Solanke of that these days, however. Only Ollie Watkins and Erling Haaland have more than his 15 Premier League goals this season.
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, meanwhile, believes there is nothing to separate Solanke from two of the most-vaunted forwards in the division. Two players he can perhaps be a little unfortunate to find himself behind in Gareth Southgate’s England roster.
Iraola likens Bournemouth ace to Toney and Watkins
“I’m pretty sure he’s not going to give up,” Iraola tells Sky Sports, backing Solanke to force his way into England’s Euro 2024 squad. “He will try to push and put the pressure on the national team coach and try to make everything he can because I’m sure it’s something that’s important for him.
“But he’s not selfish. He will do the work. He’s not only thinking about the goals. He knows that if gives us the work and he helps us to play better, he will have more chances and he will be closer to the goals.
“It’s very difficult the job of Gareth Southgate. He has very, very good players available and whatever decision he takes someone is going to feel not in the best place.
“England has top-level strikers, without even Harry Kane. You can put Ollie Watkins, you can put Ivan Toney, they are high-level players, and I think Dom is there and is playing in at least this level.”
Solanke has scored more goals than every member of Klopp’s title-chasing Liverpool squad this season bar Mo Salah. Both players are joint-third in the Golden Boot standings with 15 apiece.
Solanke’s Bournemouth host Everton on Saturday. Brighton, meanwhile, travel to Anfield around 24 hours later.
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