Newcastle United handed boost in £60m striker chase as boss admits uncertainty over star's future

Newcastle are believed to have had their eye on Bournemouth star Dominic Solanke for months now, with the Magpies tipped to move for the striker back in January. With the summer transfer window fast approaching, reports suggest that interest is once again rising, as Eddie Howe eyes a potential reunion with his former star.

Cherries boss Andoni Iraola, however, has admitted that while he is unsure what the summer holds, he hopes Solanke remains on the south coast to play ‘a lot more games with us.’

Solanke has been on exceptional form for the Cherries this season, scoring 18 goals from his 36 Premier League appearances and has an outside chance of bagging a place in Gareth Southgate’s squad for the upcoming European Championships in Germany this summer. There will, of course, be fierce competition for these spots with both Brentford’s Ivan Toney and Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins also battling to join Harry Kane among the selected strikers,

Newcastle are aware, however, that if they are to secure Solanke’s signature this summer, they will require a fee in the region of £60 million. The 26-year-old signed a new deal with the Cherries only last September, meaning Bournemouth will be in an excellent bargaining position for a player currently under contract until the summer of 2027.

When asked about what Solanke’s future could bring, the Spanish head coach said to the Daily Echo that he hopes the final two games of the season are not the forward’s last with the squad. “I hope they aren’t. I hope he stays with us and plays a lot more games with us. But I don’t know what’s going to happen, not with Dom, nor with the other players.

“I hope they continue with us, especially the ones that have been more involved, have been more important, or they feel more important. But as a manager, I don’t know what’s going to happen.”

The Cherries will face Brentford this weekend before their final Premier League clash of the season takes place at Stamford Bridge on Sunday 19 May.