Liverpool sign Chelsea hotshot Dominic Solanke after Blues striker was frozen out by Antonio Conte in 2016-17
Jurgen Klopp makes a move to bolster his front-line with Daniel Sturridge widely expected to leave Anfield this summer
LIVERPOOL have signed Chelsea hotshot Dominic Solanke after the Blues striker was frozen out by Antonio Conte, for a fee of around £3million.
Jurgen Klopp has made his move to bolster his front-line with Daniel Sturridge widely expected to leave Anfield this summer.
Solanke had enjoyed a fruitful loan spell at Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem in 2015-16.
But the English striker, 19, and Chelsea stalled on contract negotiations and Conte left Solanke to spend most of his time outside of the matchday squad.
He served as third-choice forward behind Diego Costa and Michy Batshuayi for much of the campaign.
Solanke failed to play a single game in the 2016-17 campaign and was an unused sub in his only squad appearance – a 3-2 win over Bristol Rovers in the EFL Cup.
Conte confirmed in February of this year Solanke – currently away on England Under-20s duty at the World Cup – was likely to leave the club.
The news alerted Klopp who is eager to boost his forward ranks – reportedly offering the youngster £20,000-a-week – with the fee set to be decided via a Premier League tribunal.
Liverpool relied heavily on goals from their attacking midfielders this season, with Philippe Coutinho, Adam Lallana, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane crucial.
Sturridge is now set to leave this summer, with West Ham just one interested party, with Divock Origi one of few striking options in the squad.
Celtic and Red Bull Leipzig were just two other European giants interested in taking on Solanke.
Klopp is now hoping a young core of Solanke, Ben Woodburn and Rhian Brewster can usher in a new era of prolific, homegrown Liverpool strikers.
