9 months ago
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Jurgen Klopp insists he is delighted to see former Liverpool striker Dominic Solanke thriving at Bournemouth this season.
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The 26-year-old is currently in the midst of the most prolific Premier League goalscoring campaign of his career with his performances attracting significant transfer interest from Arsenal.
Bournemouth have issued a strong hands-off warning to interested parties with Newcastle, who are also monitoring the centre forward’s situation, admitting they lack the funds to complete a deal this month.
Solanke’s exploits in front of goal have helped propel the Cherries to 12th in the table ahead of this weekend’s acid test against the league leaders.
And Klopp is well aware of the danger the former Chelsea academy graduate will pose, having sanctioned a move to sign Solanke for the Reds earlier in his career.
The England international, who has a solitary cap, earned back in 2017, to his name, spent two indifferent years at Anfield earlier in his career during which he managed just one top flight goal in 21 appearances.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s match, Klopp confessed Solanke was not clinical enough at that stage of his career to oust Liverpool’s senior strikers but has not been surprised by his rapid development this term.
‘I’m so happy for Dom because when we signed him we were all so excited about the talent he had,’ said Klopp at his pre-match press conference.
‘He had so much and has so much potential when he cam here. But this is Liverpool, we had other good strikers as well.
‘He had games but at that time he was probably not the most clinical yet, but the talent was obvious.
‘And then he made how it is sometimes the absolute right decision to go to Bournemouth through all different stages.
‘Last year already he scored enough goals and now he’s obviously up there with the greatest. I’m so happy for him, he was a wonderful kid and a real talent.
‘He did it the hard way. He tried here, maybe realised he moved a bit too early, went to Bournemouth and is really good.’
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