According to reports from The Sun, Arsenal are planning to prize promising youngster Dominic Solanke away from London rivals Chelsea.
The 18-year-old is rated as one of the best youth strikers in the country, having already fired the Blues to two FA Youth Cups and the UEFA Youth League title. He also picked up England’s Youth Player of the Year award for 2014 after netting four times in as many appearances at the U17 European championship.
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The England U21 has produced seven goals during his season-long loan at Vitesse Arnhem this term but has just made one appearance for his parent club at senior level – coming on as a substitute in the Champions League at the start of last season.
Chelsea are desperate to keep him at Stamford Bridge but Solanke is refusing to extend his current contract past the end of next season, unless the west London club buckle to his wage demands of £50k per week – the same package Premier League top scorer Harry Kane picks up at Tottenham Hotspur.
And according to The Sun, the ongoing ambiguity over Solanke’s future has allowed Arsenal to enter the race for the 6 foot 1 forward’s signature, with the Gunners plotting to prize him away from their London rivals.
Although Arsene Wenger won’t offer a £50k per week contract, he can guarantee Solanke a greater role in the first-team squad – something Chelsea appear reluctant to do – and the Gunners gaffer’s record of developing young players is up there with the best in world football.
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