Tottenham step up pursuit of Bournemouth forward Dominic Solanke

Tottenham have stepped up their pursuit of Dominic Solanke and entered advanced talks with Bournemouth over signing the forward, the PA news agency understands.

Spurs have been on the hunt all summer for attacking reinforcements, with head coach Ange Postecoglou recently acknowledging on the club’s pre-season tour that the striker department was the “thinnest” area of his squad.

Solanke has emerged as Tottenham’s preferred candidate and discussions with Bournemouth have now entered an advanced stage, with personal terms not expected to be an issue.

One-cap England forward Solanke missed Bournemouth’s friendly win over Rayo Vallecano last Sunday with a minor foot injury, which only served to heighten scrutiny over his future.

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Bournemouth owner Bill Foley had confirmed earlier this summer that Solanke’s current deal until 2027 included a release clause in the region of £65million and his anticipated exit would be a club-record sale for the Cherries.

Nathan Ake’s £40m transfer to Manchester City in 2020 was Bournemouth’s previous biggest departure and while talks continue with Tottenham over the final fee, it will be in excess of Ake’s move.

Postecoglou gave the green light for Spurs to pursue Solanke after the best season of the 26-year-old’s career.

Solanke scored 21 goals in all competitions for Bournemouth across the 2023-24 campaign – including 19 in the Premier League – but also caught the eye with his impressing pressing statistics and link-up play for Andoni Iraola’s side.

This expected transfer to Tottenham will give Solanke another opportunity at a top-six club, after he progressed through Chelsea’s academy as a teenager before he departed for Liverpool in 2017.

While chances were limited for Solanke at Anfield, he has been a key figure in keeping Bournemouth in the Premier League during the past two seasons, but is now eager to grasp what he views as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Postecoglou was tight-lipped on Solanke when he faced the media on Friday afternoon, but Iraola was more forthcoming and acknowledged he would be a “big miss” for Bournemouth.

“I expected this to be the first question! I know talks are ongoing,” Iraola told a press conference.

“It is different from the situation when you asked last week, but right now he is our player. That is what I know. I cannot tell you much more.

“For us, Dom is a very, very important player. But I cannot tell you how this is going to finish.

“Everyone focuses on the goals he scores. He scores a big percentage of our goals, but he gives us much more than goals. He is very complete, he helps us in all the phases of the game. He would be a big miss, obviously.

“He scored a lot of goals, but if this happens, it has happened in other positions, we have to trust the people inside the club. I am sure they will be ready.

“But I repeat, right now, today, in this moment, Dom continues with us.”

PA understands Bournemouth have been actively working on replacements for Solanke under the proviso that he could leave after an impressive 2023-24 campaign.