Dominic Solanke was the Rangers loan move that never happened – but now the striker is coming of age in the Premier League.
Back in 2018 when Steven Gerrard took over at Ibrox all the talk was of the Gers plunging for an ambitious loan for the former Chelsea youth.
Once one of English football’s most coveted young talents, Liverpool had snapped the kid up from the Chelsea youth department but couldn’t find a way to consistently fit him into their side despite Dom making his England debut back in 2017.
It had plenty thinking a short-term stint at Rangers would be the best solution and Dominic Solanke was the marquee hitman the Ibrox support craved almost six years ago.
Dominic Solanke on rich Bournemouth form
As things would transpire, we’d sign Kyle Lafferty from Hearts and Umar Sadiq on loan from AS Roma, with Dominic Solanke eventually moving to AFC Bournemouth.
Forking out a reported £24m to sign the talented young striker in January 2019, it was a gargantuan fee which came with big pressure initially as the Cherries failed to get a return on the investment.
But fast forward five years and suddenly the now 26-year-old hitman has begun to flower with Dominic Solanke one of the Premier League’s form hitmen.
Netting a quite stunning 12 Premier League goals in 18 games this season, the striker is tied on goals with Liverpool’s Mo Salah and behind only Erling Haaland (14) in the top scorer standings.
This includes a hattrick in a 3-2 win away to Nottingham Forest last week and another in the 3-0 Boxing Day win at home to Fulham.
It all points to a young striker finally coming of age with Tottenham Hotspur reportedly eyeing the £24m striker as heir to Harry Kane’s North London throne.
Rangers did raid Liverpool youth ranks
Whilst a move for Dominic Solanke never quite worked out for Rangers, the Ibrox side and then manager Steven Gerrard did raid Liverpool that summer.
Ovie Ejaria joined the club’s squad on loan, whilst so did eventual permanent signing Ryan Kent and out-of-contract full-back Jon Flanagan.
But Solanke is always considered the one that got away with Liverpool opting to keep the talented young forward around rather than farm him out on loan to Scotland.
In Premier League terms, the fee Bournemouth paid for the striker is now looking a relative bargain as the club brace themselves for summer interest in the talented hitman.
Rangers meanwhile continue to be linked with loan moves for top young Premier League striker talent.
Reports are claiming that the Gers are battling Old Firm rivals Celtic to sign a generational talent once daubed the “best number nine” in his age group in Europe.
