Latest reports have confirmed that Steven Gerrard tried his luck in luring Liverpool striker Dominic Solanke to Rangers on loan, but the Premier league outfit resisted the approach and kept hold of the English striker in the summer. It is believed that Jurgen Klopp likes the player and he sees him playing some role this season. However, the English striker hasn’t even been in the matchday squad so far this season.
During the transfer window, many thought the rumours regarding Solanke were too good to be true, but the latest report does prove that Gerrard tried his best to bring him to Ibrox. Maybe there might still be a chance that Gerrard can land him in January if Solanke continues to be excluded from the Liverpool squad.
However, things could change once all other competitions kick off as the Merseyside club would be looking to challenge on all the fronts. Though even then, someone like Daniel Sturridge would be up ahead in the pecking order over Solanke. Maybe Klopp is aware that he cannot trust Sturridge’s fitness for long. Therefore, he is keeping hold of Solanke for the time being.
Solanke has represented England at all major youth levels and has even made his senior team debut. The 20-year-old is a classic out and out striker, and his performance at the junior level for the Three Lions has been breathtaking. However, he hasn’t been able to emulate such form for his club. The striker made 21 appearances in the Premier League last season and managed just one goal. Though to be fair to him, most of his appearances were from the bench in the last 10-15 minutes of the game.
The Gers signed Kyle Lafferty in the summer and Gerrard seems to be favouring the formula of starting both his major strikers together. It remains to be seen how the strategy would bear fruits and whether Lafferty and Alfredo Morelos would be able to forge a strong partnership. With both the strikers set to play every week, that leaves Umar Sadiq as the only other option on the bench and we feel they are a striker short especially if they continue with two up top. In such a scenario, we think Gerrard should go for Solanke if an opportunity presents itself.
In that case, Solanke would make an excellent case for himself. We know we shouldn’t say something like this, but the only way the Gers can land him on loan in January is if the 20-year-old keeps getting sidelined from the squad and he continues getting only handful of chances in the playing eleven. Maybe then, the manager and player would realise that to maintain the forward’s development, they ought to send him on loan, and that is when the Teddy Bears can land him. As of now, it seems Klopp expects him to play some role in the ongoing season.
