Liverpool fans didn’t have a whole lot to cheer with Dominic Solanke. The 22-year-old was at Anfield for just 18 months, from summer 2017 through to January 2019, as he signed from Chelsea for a tribunal fee of £3m (BBC), before leaving for Bournemouth just 18 months later for a much larger fee of £19m (BBC).
However, during that one and a half-seasons with Liverpool, in which the young striker’s value grew by £16m, he only scored one goal in his 27 games, leading to some of the Reds now looking back at that business and the player who they profited from.
Aged 22, striker Dom Solanke has scored one goal in his English football career, but he's played for Chelsea, Liverpool, the national side and been signed for £10m (tribunal) and then £20m already. That's mad.
— Empire of the Kop (@empireofthekop) October 17, 2019
Some fans have been very quick to get behind the 22-year-old.
Many of the Reds in the comments of Empire of the Kop’s tweet have made it clear that they believe Solanke is a good player despite his lack of goals, and it must be remembered that this is a striker who has won a senior cap for his country during a clash at Wembley against Brazil (BBC).
great player, irrespective of the stats
— Thando Magaya (@ThandoeMagaya) October 17, 2019
There’s a player in there
— David Rigby (@DavidRigby10) October 17, 2019
Scored a cracker for us tho – defo has it – just needs a consistent run of games upfront with Callum Wilson
— Cheeky Chav (@TheCheekyChav) October 17, 2019
He’s still a good player, just struggling to score at the moment. I think it’ll come
— adam (@lfcads2001) October 17, 2019
He’s that good. But, I think he needs to go through the kinda path Tammy and Mount went through. Otherwise, the struggle would be inevitable.
— Peace of Mine (@ExxentrikAdonis) October 17, 2019
Not all of the Reds have been as kind to Solanke as those above, though.
Despite the fact that the youngster has got an England cap and made them a nice slice of profit, as was stated above, they don’t believe he’s good enough, and one fan has even gone as far to suggest that the only reason big money has been splashed on him is because of his nationality.
Horrendous player
— Aaron Roberts (@Marioazzotelli) October 17, 2019
Sorry but I never did see anything from him that I was impressed with but if he’s making a career out of it whonam I to judge , he’s got a lucky break and someone is wanting to pay for his services so good luck to him
— colin campbell (@ColinScunner) October 17, 2019
Only one reason. He’s English
— Soham Sarkar (@SohamSarkar_5) October 17, 2019
Actually I have high hopes of him and knows he will be a decent player. At the same time I also knows he might not be decent enough for our first team, judging by how many options we have already. So it’s inevitable he would go at one point. Shame, but no other choice.
— Putra Septiadi (@putraseptiadii) October 17, 2019