Tottenham looks to poach transfer target from fellow London club
By Gary Pearson
With Manor Solomon’s one-season loan deal about to conclude at Fulham, the Athletic suggests Tottenham will be the frontrunners to secure the Israeli’s signature.
Solomon is under permanent contract at Shakhtar Donetsk until Dec. 31, 2023, but a recent FIFA ruling permits all Ukraine-based players the right to suspend their contracts for a further year.
The year suspension will extend past his contractual obligations, allowing Tottenham and other suitors to land him on a free transfer this summer.
Fulham is expected to offer Solomon a permanent contract. The question is whether Solomon’s head will be turned by the prospect of playing for a higher-profile team.
Despite an inadequate, subpar season, Tottenham is still considered a more prestigious club than their London neighbours, though other clubs above Spurs in the football world order might also be interested in Solomon’s services.
Solomon endured a challenging start to his Premier League career, suffering an early knee injury that kept him out of the side for an extended spell. However, he came to life after the World Cup and scored in five consecutive matches.
With a match against Manchester United remaining, Solomon has scored five goals in 23 appearances for the Cottagers, including four in the top flight.
His ability to impact proceedings from an advanced position on the left side of midfield will appeal most to Tottenham. He is only 23 years old and has a few seasons before entering the prime of his career.
He’s also an affordable option who won’t break the bank. A free transfer combined with a comparatively measly salary (currently £20,000 weekly) is a particularly palatable proposition for a chairman always searching for a prudent bit of business.
In his first season in England, Solomon became the first Israeli to score in three consecutive Premier League matches since Ronnie Rosenthal for Liverpool in 1992.
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