Opinion

Liverpool will be really keen for Newcastle to sign 26-year-old striker this month

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Newcastle United are looking to sign a new attacker during the January transfer window, and Premier League rivals Liverpool will be watching what they do very closely.

With Callum Wilson struggling for fitness again, it is clear that Newcastle need to add another forward to their squad.

That has led to interest in Dominic Solanke, with the Magpies enquiring about signing the 26-year-old from Bournemouth.

However, their enquiry was turned down, with Bournemouth very eager to keep Solanke at the Vitality Stadium this month.

It remains to be seen if Eddie Howe‘s side will take their interest in the striker any further, but one club that will hope they do is Liverpool.

Liverpool would benefit from Newcastle signing Dominic Solanke

That is because Liverpool are set to benefit financially from Solanke’s next move.

They sold Solanke to Bournemouth back in 2019, when Eddie Howe was still manager of the Cherries. He highlighted the forward’s potential, which led to the Bournemouth owners splashing out £19million plus add-ons to sign him. It was recently stated that the deal has now cost them £24million.

The deal also included a 20% sell-on clause on any profit that Bournemouth make. That means that if or when Bournemouth sell Solanke, 20% of the amount they make over £24million will go to Liverpool. For example, if he went for £40million, the Reds would receive 20% of the £16million profit, which is £3.2million.

That is why Liverpool will be keen for Newcastle to splash out on the England international, and it is another reason why a deal might be difficult to do.

Tottenham Hotspur v AFC Bournemouth - Premier League
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Solanke will cost a lot of money this month

Solanke is flying this season. It is his best Premier League campaign ever, with his 12 goals making him the league’s third top scorer so far. Only Erling Haaland and Mo Salah have scored more.

That is a fantastic achievement, and one that will see Solanke’s valuation sky rocket. Combine that with the fact he is English, has his best years ahead of him and a contract until 2027 and Bournemouth are well placed to command a huge fee.

On top of that, they will also be mindful that some of that fee will have to go to Liverpool. Therefore, they will want as lucrative a deal as possible. This is something Newcastle experienced in the summer when they bought Tino Livramento, as there was the added complication of Chelsea having a sell-on clause.

With a cash injection at stake, Liverpool will be hoping that Newcastle do firm up their interest in Solanke with an official offer, but it is difficult to see a deal taking place given the finances that will likely be involved.