Antonio Conte was coy when asked today about the future of Chelsea’s teenage striker Dominic Solanke.
Rumours are circulating that the 19-year-old, whose contract expires at the end of the season, wants to move to Liverpool – who’ve earmarked him as a potential option to bolster the frontline.
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We’d have to pay compensation due to the forward’s age, but he’s a mighty exciting proposition and has been regarded as a future hope of English football for some time.
Conte has claimed the decision is completely up to the player, intimating that Solanke may be exiting Stamford Bridge.
“It is best to ask him [why]. I think for a young player to stay in a great team like Chelsea is a great opportunity. You have to respect his decision,” he said, reported in the Echo.
“I have spoken with him to try to understand his will. It is normal. We must have a great respect for every decision.
“His contract expires in June and he has the full will to stay in Chelsea or to go away.”
Solanke’s record at youth level is exceptional, but as we know, that doesn’t always translate to senior football. The Daily Mail say he’s demanding £50k/week, which we surely will not play for someone who’s played seven minutes of senior football in England.
Klopp, perhaps even more so than Conte, is adamant that his club will not overpay for youngsters in order to keep them hungry, so for now, we see no real legs in this story.