Tottenham Hotspur’s recent £65 million acquisition of AFC Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke could inadvertently benefit their fierce rivals, Arsenal. Spurs secured Solanke on Saturday with a deal structured as £55 million upfront plus £10 million in add-ons, committing him to a contract through 2030.
Bournemouth now faces the urgent task of finding a replacement before their Premier League season kicks off with an away match against Nottingham Forest. This situation may provide Arsenal with an unexpected advantage after they encountered difficulties in trimming their squad under Mikel Arteta.
In a related development, Marseille has reportedly pulled out of negotiations to sign Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah due to a disagreement over the transfer fee, with Arsenal valuing the striker at £26 million.
Nketiah was initially open to the move, but with the deal falling through, both his future and Arsenal’s transfer strategy remain uncertain as the summer window nears its close.
However, Bournemouth might step in to resolve the situation, as they are now exploring alternatives to Solanke. According to reports, the Cherries have shown interest in Nketiah after an initial bid for FC Porto’s Evanilson was rejected.
Nketiah, a proven Premier League talent with 38 goals in 168 appearances for Arsenal, could be an attractive option for Bournemouth. If he stays with Arsenal, Nketiah could still see major playing time, especially if Mikel Arteta decides to deploy Kai Havertz in a midfield role, leaving Gabriel Jesus as the primary striker.