According to the latest reports in the Evening Standard, Crystal Palace are set to go for Dominic Solanke in the January window to bolster their attacking options. Reports add that the Eagles don’t have much cash to play with in the winter transfer period. Therefore, the signing of Solanke on loan looks attractive to them.
The Eagles believe that the success of Ruben Loftus Cheek would attract Solanke to Selhurst Park. The Chelsea midfielder enjoyed a good spell last season and as a result, was picked for England’s World Cup squad in Russia. Now the midfielder is also making his way into the Chelsea starting lineup.
21-year-old Solanke has struggled for any game time this season as he has even failed to make the matchday squads at Liverpool. Both Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi came back from loan, and as a result, the young English striker fell down the pecking order. So it wouldn’t be a surprise to us if Jurgen Klopp allows Solanke to leave in January.
However, there are strong reports ( The Scottish Sun) that Rangers would also push for a move for the Liverpool striker, and they hold an ace in the form of Steven Gerrard who for sure would have an influence on this move.
But Klopp would also want his striker to get some Premier League experience under his belt. Therefore, Crystal Palace should have the edge over their Scottish counterparts. The striker got his chances last season as both Sturridge and Origi were away on loan. The forward failed to impress whenever he got his opportunities and managed just 1 goal in 21 Premier League appearances. However, to be fair to him, a lot of those appearances came in the late stages of the games.
Palace have struggled to score goals freely and they depend heavily on Wilfried Zaha to produce something spectacular in the final third. Christian Benteke has failed big time in his spell at Selhurst Park and is currently recovering from a knee injury. Zaha has often played as a false 9 but an able striker would elevate the Eagles’ team to the next level and signing Solanke should be a priority for them in January.
Solanke’s record at the club level is not much to write about but he has always impressed playing for England’s u-21 side and was even fast-tracked to the senior team. However, now he needs to play regularly to get a break in the England setup and Palace can definitely provide him that in January. Roy Hodgson should go all out to land this Liverpool striker to solve their goal-scoring woes.
