11 June 2024 , 09:00
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Jurgen Klopp's high praise for Dominic Solanke suggests the striker would be well-equipped for a return to Chelsea.
The Bournemouth frontman has surfaced as a potential signing for both the West Londoners and Arsenal after a strong campaign for the Cherries last season. Solanke, 26, hinted at his lingering fondness for the Blues by congratulating Tosin Adarabioyo on his move from Fulham to Stamford Bridge.
Last December, Solanke was also rumoured to be on Arsenal's radar for the January transfer window, but Mikel Arteta's team didn't follow through with any action. Solanke rose through the ranks at Chelsea and was a key squad member under Jose Mourinho during the manager's second stint at the helm.
A year after a loan spell at Vitesse Arnhem, Liverpool made a surprising move for Solanke, but his chances in the first team at Anfield quickly evaporated under Klopp, reports Football London. Looking back on the forward's time at Anfield, Klopp praised the 26-year-old and appeared to suggest he would be ready for a move to one of the big clubs.
Speaking ahead of Liverpool's trip to face Bournemouth in January, Klopp was quizzed about Solanke's progress since leaving Anfield. The German said: "I'm so happy for Dom.
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"When we signed him we were all so excited about the talent he is, and [he] had so much potential when he came here. I'm so happy for him because he's a wonderful kid, a real talent and a real player.
"He went the hard way, trying here, realising maybe it's a bit too early, then going to Bournemouth then doing it all the way is really cool."
Klopp suggested Solanke was not the natural goalscorer that he is now when he was at Liverpool - hinting that he's more ready to play for a big team nowadays. Asked about his struggles on Merseyside, he said: "It's Liverpool and we had other good strikers as well. He was probably at that time not the most clinical yet but the talent was obvious.
Solanke has been linked with a big money move for Chelsea (PA)"And then, how it is sometimes, he made the absolute right decision to go to Bournemouth. [He] went there through all different stages and, last year, already scored enough goals and now he's obviously up there with the greatest.
"I'm so happy for him because he's a wonderful kid, a real talent and a real player."
Reports from TalkSPORT understand Solanke has a £65m release clause on his head. Solanke's sharpness in front of goal was evident last season, as he netted an impressive 19 times and provided three assists in 38 Premier League games.
This saw him outscore both Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min. Despite his stellar performances, Solanke missed out on a spot in Gareth Southgate's England squad for Euro 2024.
The national team manager instead chose to bring Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins and Brentford's Ivan Toney to Germany.
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