‘Goals for fun’… Paul Merson impressed by £40m forward linked with Arsenal

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Arsenal have been linked with Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke in recent days.

The Daily Star recently reported the Gunners are looking at a potential deal for Solanke as an alternative for Ivan Toney.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will personally “push for Solanke’s arrival if an agreement for Toney can’t be reached”, according to the report.

Now, Arsenal legend Paul Merson has expressed his admiration for the Cherries ace and suggested clubs would be starting to take an interest in him.

The Gunners icon, writing on Sportskeeda, acknowledged that Solanke is in great form and “banging in goals for fun”.

And if he continues to do so, then clubs higher up the pyramid may start circling, suggested Merson.

“Dominic Solanke has been in great form,” he said. “And if he continues banging in goals for fun, some of the ‘bigger’ teams might start taking an interest.”

Arsenal aren’t alone in pursuit of Solanke, however. The Mirror recently reported that West Ham are ready to make another approach for the 26-year-old.

This is after the Hammers reportedly fell short in pursuit of the striker in the summer with a £40million bid.

Arsenal target Dominic Solanke has ‘a lot of different skills’

Solanke is a good player in great form and it would make sense for Arsenal to at least keep tabs on him. However, they may struggle to pull off such a deal in January.

He only penned a new contract in September, which runs until the summer of 2027. The Cherries’ hand is very strong at present, and the player doesn’t seem in any rush to leave.

“Obviously I think he’s really happy here,” AFCB boss Andoni Iraola told the Bournemouth Echo in November.

“He has shown it also, renewing his contract not so much time ago. So I think it’s really nice for us.

“The feeling I’ve had with him since day one I was here has been very, very good. He has a lot of different skills.

“He can adapt to different ways of playing and he’s very complete to be a number nine.”

Signing a top No. 9 is difficult in the summer, never mind in the January transfer window when clubs don’t want to lose their main sources of goals mid-season.

It looks unlikely that Arsenal can pull this off in January, and no doubt there will be other options emerging in the summer.