Dominic Solanke became Tottenham’s club record signing this summer after the North London club paid £65 million to sign him from Bournemouth.
The striker enjoyed a prolific season in front of goal for the Cherries as he netted an impressive 19 league goals.
His goal-scoring exploits convinced Spurs to make him their most expensive-ever signing and the man to finally replace Harry Kane.
Dominic Solanke is expected to make his first Tottenham start against Leicester City in the club’s Premier League curtain opener away at Leicester.
Ahead of the trip to the King Power Stadium, Ange Postecoglou has been raving about his new number 19.
Ange Postecoglou believes Dominic Solanke fits his Tottenham team
Postecoglou has explained what he saw in Solanke’s game that convinced him to sign the 26-year-old for a club-record fee.
The Australian coach believes the striker’s ability to press, move around the pitch and his range of finishing made him the perfect candidate to lead the line for Spurs.
Speaking in his press conference before the Leicester fixture, he said: “I thought he did well against us and he gave us some real problems that a lot of strikers in the league didn’t in his mobility. His movement was really impressive.
“There’s no secret we love to press and he’s got a great work ethic and he scores goals. He is a presence and scores different types of goals. I think the way we play suits him and I really liked where he was in his career.”
Ange Postecoglou loves Dominic Solanke’s mentality
Postecoglou has always made it clear that the personality of a player is another big factor in deciding whether to sign them or not.
The 58-year-old claims Solanke’s route to 19 Premier League goals was a strong indication that he has the right mentality to succeed at Spurs.
At youth level, Solanke was a real prodigy proving himself to be a proper goal-scoring threat for Chelsea’s academy.
However, he failed to make the grade in the first team at Stamford Bridge and was eventually sold to Liverpool.
“I am a big one on understanding the person, the person’s motivation and he was obviously an outstanding young player. He got to some big clubs, but it never worked out for him and it’s what you do in that scenario,” said the Tottenham manager.
His time at Anfield was just as disappointing and after a short spell on Merseyside, he made the move to Bournemouth.
Even on the south coast, it wasn’t until his sixth season at the Vitality Stadium that he finally found his feet in the top flight.
Postecoglou added: “Do you think ‘it’ll never happen for me’ or do you work your way back and he’s done remarkably well to get himself into a position where he scored 19 goals in the Premier League last year, which we all know is a fair feat and he’s got himself back to a big club.
“I love that aspect because I know he has the right sort of mentality. It was a whole range of things that meant I was really keen to bring him in.”
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