Tottenham Hotspur’s pursuit of Dominic Solanke might depend on freeing up space in the squad by offloading some of their fringe players.
Ange Postecoglou is eager to bring the 26-year-old striker, who netted 19 goals for Bournemouth in the 2023-24 season, to bolster Spurs’ attacking options. Solanke, a former Chelsea academy graduate, is also keen on a move to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. However, Richarlison’s decision to reject a £60 million transfer to Saudi Arabia could complicate their plans.
Despite this setback, Tottenham still has several avenues to raise the £65 million needed to meet Bournemouth’s demands. Here’s a look at four players who could be sold to fund Solanke’s transfer:
Oliver Skipp
Postecoglou handed Skipp only five Premier League starts last season, totaling 698 minutes of action, suggesting the midfielder could be allowed to leave. With interest from Leicester City, Southampton, and Ipswich Town, Skipp might be on the move. Rodrigo Bentancur, Pape Matar Sarr, and Yves Bissouma are all ahead of him in the pecking order, making him vulnerable to a sale, even after Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s loan move to Marseille.
Transfermarkt values Skipp at £12.8 million, though Spurs might ask for more. At 23, Skipp qualifies as a homegrown player and has over 100 appearances under his belt, making him an attractive option for Premier League clubs. With three years remaining on his contract, Tottenham won’t be forced to sell, but a tempting offer could test their loyalty.
Giovani Lo Celso
Lo Celso is likely to end his four-year spell in north London this summer, sitting behind James Maddison and perhaps Alfie Devine in the Spurs pecking order. The 28-year-old Argentinian has scored only three goals in 49 Premier League appearances since joining from Real Betis for £55 million in 2020. After spending 18 months on loan at Villarreal, who declined to sign him permanently, Lo Celso is eyeing a return to Betis.
While the transfer fee would be significantly less than what Spurs originally paid, a deal in the £10 million-£15 million range would still provide a boost to their transfer funds.
Sergio Reguilon
Reguilon, who was signed from Real Madrid for £25 million in 2021, has struggled to secure a regular spot in the Spurs lineup. After being loaned out to Manchester United and Brentford last season, the left-back is not part of Postecoglou’s plans going forward.
Despite a challenging season, Reguilon impressed during his loan spell at Brentford, which could help secure a permanent move this summer. Tottenham might not recoup the full £25 million they paid for him, but any fee close to £10 million would contribute to the Solanke fund.
Emerson Royal
With AC Milan closing in on the signing of Emerson Royal, Tottenham could soon see another Brazilian exit the club. The former Barcelona defender has been a bit-part player since his arrival and isn’t guaranteed first-team football under Postecoglou. Reports suggest a deal is close, with Sky Sport Italia’s Gianluca Di Marzio and Calciomercato.com valuing the transfer at £12.8 million (€15 million) plus £1.6 million (€2 million) in bonuses.
By selling Skipp, Reguilon, Lo Celso, and Emerson, Tottenham could potentially raise the necessary funds to sign Solanke without significantly impacting their transfer budget.
