Celtic Transfer Rumors: Dominic Solanke close to deal?
Celtic has turned South of the border for some of its biggest stars this past season. However, it appears last summer’s swoop for stars Scott Sinclair and Moussa Dembele won’t be one-offs.
At least, that is if you believe the heating up transfer rumor circuit. The latest player that has been linked to Celtic is former Chelsea starlet and England U-21 player, Dominic Solanke.
The rumor mill seems to be fueled by a combination of Brendan Rodgers’ ties to English football, Solanke’s rejection of a new contract with Chelsea and the fees that Chelsea would get upon a new signature.
According to a report by The Daily Record in Scotland, Celtic’s chances are growing by the day. That is in large part because it appears English suitors like Liverpool are backing off his asking price and the development fee that would be owed Chelsea.
Celtic not being in the English set-up means a far lesser fee owed to the London club. Think the same way they were able to get Moussa Dembele on a free agent deal from Fulham this past offseason.
According to the Daily Record, Celtic would owe a fee of £400,000 compared to £8 million from any English club. That’s a huge difference, and one that Celtic can certainly work with given its bottom line so far this season.
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But, the most curious part of this rumor is the fact that Solanke is yet another attacking option. Celtic already has Stuart Armstrong, Tom Rogic, James Forrest, Scott Sinclair and two lethal strikers.
The Bhoys also have a young Michael Johnston, who just signed a three-year agreement this past weekend, who got his first assist in his first match with the first team. That certainly makes for a crowded attacking group.
However, we also know that Rodgers believes highly in competition.
“Players will tell you, if they have competition it improves them,” he said to the BBC.
“It’s the best time to develop. You can never become complacent. The players have improved, they’re going to improve even more and gain more confidence next season.
“And if we can add one or two to that with genuine quality, then it just makes the group really competitive on a daily basis, and that will improve them in the games.”
The good news is that Solanke could be the key to adding diversity to Celtic’s lineup. Dembele and Leigh Griffiths never could find a good strike partnership, but perhaps Solanke could be the key to allowing Celtic a more traditional 4-4-2 look.
Being able to vary the lineup and formations certainly would help Celtic in a European format, as it simply didn’t have the depth or players in place to execute it this season. One need only look at the disaster that was Rodgers’ idea against Barcelona for proof of that.
Should Celtic add a young player like Solanke to the mix, Celtic certainly would have a very competitive group of players in the attacking fold. Even with Patrick Roberts heading back to Manchester City after his 18-month loan spell.
Adding this young starlet could be the competition needed to get this group up to the level needed to compete regularly beyond the Champions League group stage.
It all adds up to a rumor that one can’t help but be intrigued by. Will it happen or not? That may be a completely different question, but it certainly fits the mold of what Rodgers has been successful with in the past.