Opinion: Chelsea told £65m release clause in 26-year-old striker’s contract but one 19-goal season shouldn’t justify that tag

Chelsea are linked with a move for Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke

Chelsea has been linked to several options during the summer transfer window as they scout for Dominic Solanke. The team will consider all of their options before deciding that this one best fits the new manager’s style of play.

Among them is former Blues academy player Dominic Solanke, who enjoyed a productive season with Bournemouth scoring 19 goals in the Premier League, and alongside Chelsea, Liverpool are also keen on signing him.

Before leaving the Blues to try his luck at other teams, Solanke made his name as an academy product. He had one of his best last seasons ever, capping the camping off with a bang. The Blues will be keen to sign a prolific striker for the upcoming term, but the key issue could be his release clause, which is understood to be £65 million; thus, it puts into question whether Chelsea should pursue him.

Is Solanke an ideal fit for Chelsea despite his release clause?

When Bournemouth earned promotion to the Premier League in the 2022–23 season, Solanke only scored seven goals across all competitions in his first campaign in the league. He was instrumental in helping the Cherries secure promotion to the top-flight league, scoring 30 goals in 48 matches across all competitions in the Championship before their promotion.

In his first season in the English top-flight league, it took him a season to show his goalscoring prowess, but last campaign he made up for his poor performance, ending the season with 19 goals. Therefore, it took him a year to settle in the league, and now his exploits have attracted clubs such as Chelsea and Liverpool.

But is his £65 million price tag worth spending? He has managed to score 19 goals for a decent side, and if he joins a team with players who will constantly feed him the ball, he can certainly live up to his value. He also has English top-flight experience, but the main issue will be whether he will be able to fit into the Enzo Maresca system.

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Otherwise, he is an all-round striker, and the Blues could risk signing him because Benjamin Sesko is unavailable and Victor Osimhen’s price is too high. Thus, we are not left with enough choices in the market.