Bournemouth Coach Iraola Clarifies Solanke's Absence Amid Tottenham Interest

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Dominic Solanke missed Bournemouth's friendly against Rayo Vallecano due to an injury, according to head coach Andoni Iraola. This absence has fueled transfer rumours linking Solanke to Tottenham, as manager Ange Postecoglou seeks a new striker this transfer window. Reports suggest Solanke has a £65 million release clause.

Iraola clarified that Solanke's absence was due to a training injury rather than any transfer developments. "Someone stamped on his foot yesterday and we are not going to risk him in a pre-season friendly," Iraola stated after Bournemouth's 1-0 win. He added that he hopes Solanke will be fit for the next game against Girona.

Despite the speculation, Iraola emphasised that the decision was purely precautionary. "It's nothing big, just that he couldn't put the boot on, and we decided obviously to [not risk him]," he said. The coach also mentioned other players like Justin Kluivert and Lewis Cook who had minor issues but are expected to play soon.

The rumours around Solanke intensified after he was left out of the squad for Sunday's match against Rayo Vallecano. However, Iraola reiterated that there is no intention of selling the striker. "It's not in my control. I tell you what has happened and I've seen it happen," Iraola explained when asked about the transfer speculations.

Solanke had an impressive last season, scoring 19 goals in the Premier League, setting a club record for Bournemouth. This performance has attracted interest from other clubs, but Iraola remains firm on keeping his star player.

Future Prospects

Iraola is optimistic about Solanke's quick recovery and expects him to be ready for Bournemouth's league opener against Nottingham Forest on August 17. "It'll probably make it bigger, but the truth is Dom came today. We decided it doesn't make any sense to risk him in a friendly," Iraola said.

The coach is confident that Solanke will be fine in three or four days and looks forward to having him back on the pitch soon. With several players dealing with minor injuries, Iraola stressed the importance of not taking unnecessary risks during pre-season games.

Bournemouth fans will be eager to see if Solanke can continue his goal-scoring form in the upcoming season, especially with their first league match approaching rapidly.