Dominic Solanke

Celtic have moved closer to a stunning summer swoop for Chelsea striker Dominic Solanke.

The 19-year-old is quitting Stamford Bridge and Parkhead boss Brendan Rodgers is interested in snapping up the England Under-21 international.

Solanke has refused the offer of a new contract with the Blues and, with the teenager a free agent at the end of the season and certain to leave, Celtic could snare his signature for a fraction of the development fee English clubs would have to pay Chelsea.

This is due to the cross-border rules which enabled the Parkhead club to capture Moussa Dembele on a cut-price deal from Fulham a year ago.

Liverpool seemed to have won the race with the hitman understood to have been in favour of a move to Anfield.

However, with Reds boss Jurgen Klopp now eyeing other attacking targets, including Paris Saint-Germain’s Lucas Moura, the German has new options and no deal is assured.

With no Anfield move certain, Record Sport can confirm Celtic are still in the race.

English clubs would have to pay around £8million for Solanke, while Celtic could get him for as little as £400,000.

The striker is leaving Chelsea due to lack of top-team chances under boss Antonio Conte.

He has played just 17 minutes of top-team action – in a Champions League game against Maribor in 2014.

Conte has Michy Batshuayi and Tammy Abraham, who shone at Bristol City on loan this term, as back-up. And with Everton’s Romelu Lukaku and Sassuolo’s Domenico Berardi also on his radar, Solanke knows he has to go.

Italians Fiorentina are also believed to be eyeing the striker along with Red-Bull Leipzig.

 

Both liverpool and arsenal want him.

not a chance imo

 

I think there's a chance we go for this type of player. High wages we can afford due to low transfer fee.

 

Honestly don't know why we'd sign him unless one of Griff or Dembele are off.

Would hate for us to have all 3 and leave Aitchison with absolutely no chance of game time.

 

If he's not good enough for chelsea, then i'm not sure he's good enough for us.
Cheap though, so might be worth a punt.

Brendan might be able to coach him into a player.

 

Stirridge wasn't good enough for city or chelsea and was great at Liverpool just look at Scott Sinclair sometimes a player needs a bit of space and chance to show what he can do

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Let Brendan do his magicareer. ...looks like he is an England team mate of wee Paddy Roberts...so we will have inside info....exciting summer signings ahead...bring it on.

 

Last time I seen him mentioned he was asking Chelsea for stupid wages.

Looks like a good prospect, could probably be developed into a good lone striker as he seems to have all the credentials.

Would be a shame for Griff, but I imagine this guy would be more Dembeles replacement. Whether that's this season or next.

 

Solanke
Willock
Adelaide

Mental the amount of young out of contract players in England we've been linked with since Dembele

 

You mad?

Sinclair wasn't good enough for Man City or Aston Villa, yet he's been a revelation up here.

Solanke has Diego Costa, plus that Batshoe guy who cost about £30m+ (who cannie even get a game either!) Both ahead of him in the pecking order.

Solanke is a quality young player who is gonna go far in the game - i'd be jizzing in your pants if we somehow managed to pull this one off!!

 

If this happened I'd be over the moon watched him a few times in the youth fa cup and he looked really good


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Would be a massive signing for us with huge potential.

I'm sure he can play in the wide positions so I wouldn't have him down as a replacement for Dembele or Griff just yet

 

Think their good bit of truth in it press seem to be all over it

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The press will jump on any and every transfer story they can, so I wouldn't read too much into it. If he's seen up here for talks then I'll start to get excited. Clearly a decent young prospect and will likely be sold for millions in the future.

Won't hold my breath on him signing though.

 

So many are reporting it now though

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Looks a great prospect and would be a handy player to have with a busy season ahead,can play both wings and behind the striker.Sign him up Brendan.

 

Liverpool fans seem convinced he's basically signed for them and it's been agreed for a wee while now.

Suppose we'll just have to wait and see.

 

I know but we have a number of guys at the club who were at Chelsea and dealing with youth team like rodgers and congerton who I think solanke knows

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Plus we have a huge sign on fee to put into his sky rocket ,and a better chance of game time .