Arsenal target prolific £65m bagsman with fascinating release clause

Any potential Arsenal interest in Bournemouth talisman Dominic Solanke has been boosted by news of a very specific release clause in the player's current deal with the south coast club.

The Gunners are known to be in the market for a striker this summer as Mikel Artera prepares to challenge Manchester City for the Premier League title once again next term. There are rumours that Gabriel Jesus could depart the Emirates Stadium and, despite his end of season form, Kai Havertz is not an out-and-out striking option.

Over the weekend, The Sunday Express reported that Arsenal held an interest in Solanke with the player available for £65 million following a breathtaking season with the Cherries.

The 26-year-old plundered 19 goals in the top flight for Bournemouth with only Erling Haaland, Cole Palmer and Alexander Isak managing more.

While Arsenal have been linked with other names in Viktor Gyokeres, Ivan Toney and Benjamin Sesko, The Athletic reports of an intriguing detail in Solanke's contract which could put the London club in pole position.

Journalist Adam Leventhal has reported that Solanke's £65 million release clause can only be triggered by 'certain clubs'. It remains to be seen which clubs are included in that detail but teamTALK believes that Arsenal 'will almost certainly be involved' in what could be a very select handful of sides competing for the talisman.

Former Premier League goalkeeper Ben Foster is one of those who have urged Arsenal to pursue the Bournemouth man. Speaking on the Fozcast, he said: "The Arsenal game, I was pulling my hair out. Listen, they’re really, really good, they battered Everton, and they would have had at least 20 forward movements into the Everton box, and I kept thinking ‘this could be a goal here’.

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“But there was nobody there clinical enough to put the ball in the back of the net, nobody there. Wato [co-host David Watson] came up with a belter earlier, he said ‘they just need somebody who is that fox in the box,’ that sniffer who is going to put the ball in the back of the net, Dominic Solanke, he said.

“I think that would be a great fit for Arsenal, I really do. He’s good in the air, physical, works his socks off, puts the ball in the back of the net, it’s what they need.”