Bournemouth Echo

Spurs travel to the south coast after a somewhat inconsistent start to the Premier League season, but sit seventh in the league, ahead of Wednesday night’s fixtures.

The Cherries, should they beat Ange Postecoglou’s side, would move above the London club.

Previewing the game at the Vitality Stadium, and asked about Spurs’ inconsistency so far this term, Iraola told the Daily Echo: “We prepare for the best Spurs.

“I think if we want to have any chance tomorrow, we have to limit their offensive game.

“If they play, especially offensively, to their level, it's going to be very difficult for us. So we have to try to limit their offensive play, try to reduce the number of chances they normally create, try to reduce the number of time they spend around our box.

“And this is the first part, if we can do this and limit a little bit what they do offensively, we might have a chance.

“If they play like most of the days, it's going to be very difficult.”

Postecoglou said in his pre-match press conference that he is expecting ‘a battle’ at Dean Court – with two teams playing with an aggressive, front foot pressing style.

On if he’s expecting the same, Iraola said: I think he's focusing on the way both teams play. We are going to press; they are going to press us.

“They will not leave us time on the ball, we will try not to leave them time on the ball, and there will be a moment probably that the game opens.

“But we have to be very ready.

“We cannot open too much the game, always, in every moment of the game.

“We will have to control it better when it's for our best interest to happen or when sometimes we have to close it, because it's a team that physically is elite.

“Their recovery runs are very good, everyone runs to attack.

“So it's not easy to win this kind of physical battle that they always propose.”

The Cherries will be boosted by the return of Antoine Semenyo after his suspension, while Lewis Cook will face a late fitness test.

The same is the case for Spurs’ Dominic Solanke, who may face his former side for the first time since leaving the club in the summer.

On the prospect of facing Solanke once again, Iraola said he would prefer not to face him – but they have prepared for him being in the team.

He said: “If he plays, obviously we will have to try to challenge him, to be ready for everything.

“We know him very well, but also he knows everything we do and I'm sure he's going to be the first one that will give all the info and will help the staff to prepare for our game.

“But it's also a good challenge for us.”

George Bristow was invited by Tottenham Hotspurs to be presented to the crowd at its game against Bayern Munich in the Visit Malta Cup on August 10.

A lifelong Spurs fan, George visited with his family, including his grandson, Glenn Bristow, 50, from Broadstone who arranged the trip for George.

He said: "He turned 101 in April this year and we've been trying to organise it since the start of the year. We've been speaking to the club and then we managed to get some tickets for Bayern Munich.

"I contacted one of the kit men via Instagram and he put me in touch with the PR guys at Spurs. Pat Jennings and Martin Chivers met us in the lounge and then we got the opportunity to go down the pitch."

George was born in Hackney, North London in 1923 and lived a mile from the ground in the 1930s. Both his parents are buried at Tottenham cemetery on White Hart Lane.

Moving to Parkstone in the 1960s, Glenn shared that this was George's first game in the new stadium but his grandad first attended matches as early as 1947/48.

He said: "His first memories of White Hart Lane was in 1947/48 and he said to us there were 70,000 people but everyone was stood up.

"We've got a shirt that he will put on the wall. It was a long day and we didn't get back until midnight but he's relatively able. He's recently had covid so that didn't make it a huge amount easier."

George and Glenn were joined by George's nephew, Gary Bristow, and his son, Barry Bristow.

A 5-hour journey, George and Glenn weren't the only ones travelling from Bournemouth for the match with Dominic Solanke also announced to have signed for Spurs.

Glenn said: "It was a bit of a coincidence, he [Solanke] got announced before the game. He wasn't on the pitch but he was sat on the sideline.

"It was three generations of family together, it would have been lovely to take our kids but cost didn't quite allow for that."

Solanke joins Spurs for an initial £55million, which could rise to £65m. Either way, it is a record fee received by Cherries for a player, eclipsing the £41m Manchester City paid for Nathan Ake in 2020.

It is understood 20 per cent of the fee will be due to Solanke’s former club Liverpool, who Cherries signed him from for around £19m in January 2019.

Solanke, the current holder of the Daily Echo/Micky Cave trophy, scored 77 goals in 216 games for Cherries, including 19 goals in the Premier League last season.

Cherries chief executive Neill Blake said: “When we identified Dominic as a target and brought him to the club five years ago, we did so with the understanding that this was always a possibility.

“As he began to realise the great potential we knew he had, it quickly became in the club’s best interest to protect his value and so we were delighted to agree terms on a new contract last summer.

“After Dominic’s performances for us - in particular his impressive 2023/24 season - it has come as no surprise that a team of Tottenham’s calibre has shown an interest.

“This move has developed quickly but Dominic has remained professional throughout and I’d like to thank him for that.

“It’s a testament to the character he has always shown while at this club, on and off the pitch.

“His development since arriving in 2019 is a credit to his work rate and endeavour, as well as the platform AFC Bournemouth gives young talent to grow.

“We’re pleased to secure a club record fee for Dominic and he also leaves with everyone’s sincere well wishes at AFC Bournemouth.”

Cherries’ star striker, who scored 19 Premier League goals last season, has been subject of speculation throughout the summer.

And various reports this morning claim a breakthrough has been made, with Spurs keen to get a deal done for the 26-year-old.

Solanke signed a new contract with Cherries just last summer, on a deal until the summer of 2027.

But included in that was said to be a £65million release clause, for certain clubs, which is thought to include Tottenham.

The Athletic claim Cherries have now “agreed to sell” Solanke to Spurs for a “club-record fee”.

The report says talks are ongoing to finalise a deal, with Solanke “desperate” to move to Tottenham, having already agreed personal terms.

Paulsen leaves Cherries to complete controversial loan move

Solanke joined Cherries for an initial £17.5million from Liverpool in January 2019, the striker previously having spent most of his career at Chelsea.

The Reading-born frontman has one senior England cap, which came in 2017, but was left out of the squad for this summer’s European Championship.

Solanke missed Sunday’s friendly against Rayo Vallecano due to a foot injury.

After the game, head coach Andoni Iraola said regarding transfer speculation: “I don’t have any other news. For me, it is the same situation.

“I always give you the same answer, because for me, it is the same situation.

“Until the market closes, this is how it is, not only for Dominic Solanke, but other players. I don’t know how we are going to finish.”

Last month, owner Bill Foley said: “I believe Dom is going to be with us this coming year.

“He has a release clause, which is very expensive.

“We shouldn’t reveal anything about the contract, but that area (£65m) sounds roughly correct.

“I guess if someone comes for him, we are going to have to replace him.

“We have two or three candidates that we have lined up.

“But I believe Dom will be here next year and I believe he is going to score 21 or 22 goals.”

He has made 216 competitive appearances for Cherries, scoring 77 goals.

Speculation is rife regarding Solanke’s future, following his superb season with Cherries, where he scored 19 Premier League goals.

Despite his fine form, England boss Gareth Southgate snubbed Solanke, not selecting him for this summer’s European Championship.

That has led to some concerns from fans that the former Chelsea and Liverpool man, who has one England cap, could be tempted to move elsewhere to boost his international hopes.

Iraola insists Solanke's situation at Cherries is 'really good'

Tottenham Hotspur are the latest club linked with a move for Solanke, who is contracted to Cherries until 2027.

But Anderton, who played more than 350 games for Spurs, before ending his career with Cherries in 2008, does not expect Solanke to be desperate for a move.

Anderton, who starred for England at Euro 96 and the 1998 World Cup, told the Daily Echo: “He’s obviously in a place that he’s happy and that he’s able to be talked about as playing for England and that sort of thing.

“So if he’s doing the business, it’s not like Gareth is only looking at the so-called big clubs in order to pick his players.

“I think if he’s happy there, that’s where he should stay.

“Bournemouth are on the up, they’re improving every year. I would be very surprised if he would be looking to get away.

“Of course, I understand having spent 12 years of my career at Tottenham, that if that were to happen, I’m sure his head would be turned.

“But, at the same time, I don’t think it’s something he will be pursuing himself.

“If that were to happen, I’m sure he would go and have a conversation with whoever it may be.”

Solanke's contract reportedly contains £65million release clause for certain clubs

Southgate decided to pick Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins and Brentford’s Ivan Toney as striker options for his England squad for Euro 2024 ahead of Solanke, alongside captain Harry Kane.

Asked if he feels the 26-year-old could feel hard done by to miss out given the season he just had with Cherries, Anderton said: “I think so. It is difficult, there is so much talent within England now.

“It’s a very difficult job for Gareth to pick players out.

“I don’t think there’s any difference between him and an Ollie Watkins or Ivan Toney.

“Those three, they’re all inexperienced at international level.

“Of course Harry Kane is the main man.

“So, to me, whoever he picks, I think it can go either way.

“I think Dom was just very unlucky that he was the one who missed out.”