Eddie Howe on Dominic Solanke - Old comments worth a read after Bournemouth 'enquiry'

On Wednesday afternoon, The Telegraph reported that Newcastle United had lodged an enquiry over Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke.

The forward is a player Eddie Howe knows very well, as the Toon boss brought him to the South Coast five years ago this month in a £19m deal from Liverpool.

At the time of his arrival, Howe described Solanke as "technically gifted, very athletic" and a player with the "physical profile" to offer something different to his options in attack, but his comments from June 2020 go into a little more detail.

Here's what the 46-year-old said about the striker - currently on 13 goals so far this season - when discussing his character, attitude and qualities as a player after coaching him for 18 months:

“Dominic is someone who has always kept his head down, he’s worked hard, he’s never let any outside noise affect him, he’s been very consistent with his attitude and his work.

“He’s a great lad, he’s got an incredible ability. And he’s had to deal with a lot the other way (criticism).

“Sometimes you’ve got to realise that very young players make big moves and moving area and all the things that come with a transfer, sometimes it takes players longer to settle at a new club than others.

“But he’s an outstanding player, I have said that from day one, and he’ll only continue to get better.”

Howe had total faith in his mentality and attitude, along with belief he'd get better an better; which is exactly what he's done as the Premier League's third top scorer behind only Erling Haaland and Mo Salah.

It seems a January deal is highly unlikely as Bournemouth have no interest in losing their top scorer mid-season and would demand huge money, but he could be another one to watch out for this summer, where we're likely to bring in another option up top.

Some question if he's simply on a purple patch, while others feel he has all the tools to become a top striker under Howe. I sit somewhere in the middle and think there's a lot to like about his all round game. However, I can't see us matching Bournemouth's demands on the back of his best season yet when he'd arrive as back-up to Alexander Isak.