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Dominic Solanke to Arsenal: Gunners could capitalise on striker's £50,000-a-week stand-off with Chelsea

Both clubs are reluctant to meet his excessive wage demands but Arsenal would be able to offer him more first-team opportunities

Jack de Menezes

Wednesday 27 April 2016 09:35 BST

Dominic Solanke wants a new contract worth £50,000-a-week at Chelsea (Getty)

Chelsea may not have to meet the staggering £50,000-a-week demanded by teenager Dominic Solanke after reports linked Arsenal with a move for the talented forward.

The Blues are reported to be facing the possibility of losing 18-year-old Solanke unless they give him a substantial pay rise and meet his demand of £50,000-a-week, despite the academy product yet to make a single appearance for the club in the Premier League.

Solanke’s sole match for the Chelsea first-team came in a substitute appearance in the 6-0 Champions League victory over Maribor in the 2014/15 group stage, and he has since been sent on loan to Vitesse Arnhem – one of Chelsea’s feeder clubs where he is joined this season by Lewis Baker, Isaiah Brown, Nathan and Danilo Pantic – where he has scored seven goals in the Eredivisie.

Talks between Chelsea and Solanke’s representatives have reached a stalling point due to the player’s excessive wage demands, and according to The Sun, Arsenal could be prepared to capitalise on that by launching a surprise move for the youngster.

Arsenal are understood to be reluctant to meet Solanke’s wage rise but would be willing to guarantee his demand for first-team opportunities, and with the club’s reputation for developing younger players into Premier League regulars, the appeal of joining the Gunners could tempt Solanke.

14 possible ins and outs at Conte's Chelsea

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1/1414 possible ins and outs at Conte's Chelsea

14 possible ins and outs at Conte's Chelsea

<b>Out:</b> Diego Costa

The controversial striker is reportedly unhappy in England and believes that the country’s referees and media are targeting him. A move back to Atletico Madrid could be on the cards if the new manager cannot convince him to stay.

Getty

14 possible ins and outs at Conte's Chelsea

<b>Out:</b> Thibaut Courtois

The goalkeeper’s form has suffered since his knee injury earlier this season and, according to reports, Conte could cash in while the Belgium international’s value remains high. A wise move?

14 possible ins and outs at Conte's Chelsea

<b>Out:</b> Radamel Falcao

The desperately out-of-form striker has confirmed that he will return to Monaco for pre-season training, bringing an end to what has been a disastrous two-year spell in England.

14 possible ins and outs at Conte's Chelsea

<b>Out:</b> Loic Remy

Another player in need of a fresh start. He’s been a small fish in a big pond ever since joining Chelsea but has enough quality to become the focal point of an attack elsewhere.

14 possible ins and outs at Conte's Chelsea

<b>Out:</b> Nemanja Matic

His fall from grace has slightly overlooked this season. Imperious upon arrival, he’s fallen behind John Obi Mikel in the pecking order – a state of affairs that many would barely be able to believe this time last year.

14 possible ins and outs at Conte's Chelsea

<b>Out:</b> Alexandre Pato

Despite his brilliant debut at Villa Park, the Brazilian may have done too little too late to earn a permanent contract. Any offer would be a mistake unless he can definitively answer questions over his fitness.

14 possible ins and outs at Conte's Chelsea

<b>Out:</b> Oscar

One of the few players in the squad who can provide the odd moment of magic but infuriatingly inconsistent. The Brazil international can still command a decent market price and is therefore dispensable.

14 possible ins and outs at Conte's Chelsea

<b>Out:</b> Nathan Ake (Watford)

The 21-year-old defender spent last season on loan with Watford, and he will continue his Premier League education this term with Bournemouth after joining the Cherries in a season-long loan.

14 possible ins and outs at Conte's Chelsea

<b>In:</b> Romelu Lukaku (Everton)

The Belgium international has made no secret of his desires to play for a Champions League club and, according to The Independent’s Mark Ogden, Conte has made him his number one priority this summer.

14 possible ins and outs at Conte's Chelsea

<b>In:</b> Arturo Vidal (Bayern Munich)

Formerly an all-action enforcer in Conte’s successful Juventus sides, the Chile international would bring steel and dynamism to Chelsea’s central midfield. The likelihood of prising him Bayern Munich’s hands, however, could be slim.

14 possible ins and outs at Conte's Chelsea

<b>In:</b> Radja Nainggolan (Roma)

A suitable back-up plan if Vidal is not a practical target. The Belgium international has the quality to fit in at an elite club.

14 possible ins and outs at Conte's Chelsea

<b>In:</b> John Stones (Everton)

Chelsea’s high-profile pursuit of the defender was ultimately fruitless and, in the time since, he’s shown he’s probably not yet worth Everton’s asking price of £40million. However, with Terry on his way, a centre-back is needed. Will Conte pay the premium on Stones’ potential?

14 possible ins and outs at Conte's Chelsea

<b>In:</b> Andreas Christensen (Borussia Monchengladbach)

The 19-year-old defender is currently on loan in Germany and his current club are desperate to make the deal permanent, so impressive has he been. Chelsea, however, would be foolish to let another talented youngster slip from out their grasp, especially when he could be a cut-price improvement in a key area.

14 possible ins and outs at Conte's Chelsea

<b>In:</b> Juan Cuadrado (Juventus)

Conte’s arrival could be the reprieve that the Colombian’s Chelsea career needs but the question is – does he actually want to move back to the Bridge? After a successful period on loan in Serie A, the league in which he made his name, he may be the one who needs convincing.

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Alex Iwobi has shone this season after being handed the chance to impress in the first team, and is currently keeping the likes of Theo Walcott, Olivier Giroud and Joel Campbell out of the side. Iwobi is far from an anomaly though, as he follows in the footsteps of Hector Bellerin, Jack Wilshere and Francis Coquelin among many others.

Chelsea, on the other hand, have struggled to give young players a chance – especially under former manager Jose Mourinho. Up until this season, John Terry remained the last player to tie down a regular starting role more than a decade ago, although Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s promotion following Mourinho’s departure has at least hinted that the English midfielder could see regular action next season once Antonio Conte takes over.

In Solanke, they have the 2014 England Youth Player of the Year and a talented individual who has already helped Chelsea’s youth team win two FA Youth Cups and the Uefa Youth League last season – having not been a part of this season’s retention of the title. Solanke has also impressed in the international set-up, having top scored for his country in England’s successful Uefa European Under-17s Championship in 2014.

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