Rafa Benitez always has his eye on talented young players to bring to Newcastle and he reportedly wants to reunite with Dominic Solanke next season, according to the Chronicle.
Benitez spent part of the 2012/13 season with Chelsea as their interim manager while Solanke was a prominent part of the youth team set-up and it’s understood he wants to bring him to St. James’ Park next season.
Solanke’s contract at Chelsea was winding down and is due to expire at the end of the season, with the two parties at a stand-off over personal terms.
The London Evening Standard claim that Chelsea will allow one of their most highly-rated youth products in recent memory leave the club on a free transfer in summer as they refuse to meet his £50,000-a-week wage demands.
Chelsea refused to allow Solanke a loan move so he can get some much-needed first-team football unless he lowered his demands and signed a new long-term deal but it appears that that will not happen.
The 19-year-old rose through the ranks at Stamford Bridge and impressed out on loan with Vitesse Arnhem but has only made one career senior Chelsea appearance to date.
Sunderland, Everton and Manchester City are among other clubs interested in signing the England U21 international.
Newcastle will reportedly offer a contract worth £35,000-a-week to Solanke, which falls short of his reported demands but perhaps the offer of regular first-team football – hopefully in the Premier League – would be enough to persuade him to make the move north.
