Possible implications if Tottenham poaches Fulham loanee

A dormant rumour has resurfaced, with Tottenham still interested in Fulham loanee Manor Solomon.

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.

That specific FIFA clause is referred to as Annex 7.

Sufficed it to say, Shakhtar Donetsk is not best pleased about Annex 7 or Tottenham’s attempts to court Solomon.

The giants of Ukrainian football have threatened legal action on any team that poaches one of their players, and Shakhtar Donetsk chief executive Sergei Palkin recently called out Tottenham, warning them against pursuing Solomon.

The specifics of the potential lawsuit are thus far vague, but restitution, probably amounting to the player’s worth, will be at the crux. According to Transfermarkt, Solomon is worth €18 million, so nothing to snuff at.

I’m sure Tottenham’s legal team will do their due diligence before attempting to snatch Solomon for free off the open market.

One thing is for sure. Any legal battle would be dragged out in court for as long as the last time Spurs won a trophy, so Tottenham’s top brass shouldn’t be too concerned about the potential financial penalty.

For the ninth-most valuable club in the world, any restitution would probably be tantamount to a feeble slap on the wrist.

With that said, should Soloman be a player of interest for Tottenham? As a free transfer, you better believe it.

The Israeli international (seven goals in 35 appearances) endured a tough start to life in the top flight, suffering a knee injury that kept him out of the side for an extended spell.

Solomon found his groove after the World Cup, scoring in five straight. That five-match stretch represented the only goals of his 24 appearances in all competitions. Despite his somewhat uninspiring goal return, Solomon can impact proceedings from an advanced position on the left side.

In terms of accolades, he became the first Israeli to score in three straight Premier League matches since Ronnie Rosenthal for Liverpool in 1992.

He is only 23 years old and has a few seasons before entering the prime of his career. Solomon would definitely be a squad player if he signed for Tottenham, at least from the onset of his tenure.

Maybe most importantly, he’s outrageously affordable. The free transfer is, well, free. And here I am, believing nothing in this world is free.

Combine that nugget with his comparatively measly salary (£20,000 weekly at Fulham), and you have yourselves an irrefutably desirable candidate; it sounds like an episode of The Bachelor, not that I’ve ever watched it…