Ian Wright has suggested Arsenal should have hijacked Tottenham’s move for England striker Dominic Solanke.
Spurs welcomed Solanke to north London last week after agreeing a deal with Bournemouth worth up to £65m.
Solanke attracted interest from some big clubs after enjoying the best season of his career to date, scoring 21 goals in 42 appearances for the Cherries.
The 26-year-old has committed to Spurs until 2030 and was presented to the club’s fans over the weekend but Wright has suggested his former club Arsenal should have hijacked the move.
Premier League runners-up Arsenal have been linked with several strikers this summer after relying on Kai Havertz up top for much of last season.
Asked how he’s feeling about Arsenal ahead of the new Premier League campaign, which starts this weekend, Wright said on The Overlap: ‘I’m really happy with how pre-season has gone and getting in [Riccardo] Calafiori.
‘I know there’s something else in the works for Arsenal, they’re going to try and do something and they have to. They need to get 90 plus points.
‘If something comes up they will do it. They need the bench to be better.’
Ex-Manchester United defender Gary Neville then asked Wright if he was surprised Arsenal did not try to sign Solanke.
The Gunners legend added: ‘You know, I wouldn’t have been too… that wouldn’t have bothered me if they went for Solanke.
‘With [Gabriel] Jesus and [Gabriel] Martinelli, they lost their place last season but we can probably get the goals from them if they get back to where we know they can be.
‘They’re better than they showed last season.’
Wright also said Solanke could be the ‘signing of the season’, tipping him to thrive at Tottenham, who finished fifth in the Premier League last season.
‘Dominic Solanke could be the signing of the season at £65m,’ Wright said.
‘I like that move for them and I think he could be a good signing with the way he plays, he doesn’t get injured, he scores goals.’
Solanke, who made his one England appearance in 2017, became Tottenham’s fourth summer signing following Yang Min-hyuk, Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray.
‘It’s a magnificent club, a huge club with ambitions that match mine, so I’m delighted to start and meet all the boys and get started,’ he said after his move from the south coast.
‘What excites me most about the club is how ambitious it is. A great manager, great players and I feel like [Spurs] will definitely suit my style of play as well so I can’t wait to get started and do my stuff on the pitch.’
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