Manor Solomon has made it clear his preference is to stay at Tottenham Hotspur next season, casting doubts over the chances of Leeds United completing a permanent move this summer.
The 25-year-old enjoyed a fruitful loan spell at Elland Road last term, registering 10 goals and 13 assists in 41 matches - including the dramatic stoppage-time winner against Plymouth Argyle that clinched the Championship title.
Speaking to Leeds Live ahead of that final day trip, the Israeli had already branded the campaign as his best on UK shores and said he had enjoyed his time in Yorkshire, though did not know what the future held.
Solomon was due to sit down with his inner circle in the days after the title celebrations, during which Leeds supporters chanted at him ‘sign him up’ while chairman Paraag Marathe was on the pitch for the trophy presentation. Solomon is a popular player among some Leeds board members.
Since the bus parade, in which Solomon was taken aback by the masses of support, transfer conversations have been held with Marseille but the French club have backed out due to ‘political reasons’.
It’s also understood that at some point Spurs chairman Daniel Levy quoted a bloated sum for Solomon which was clearly not feasible for Leeds to consider.
Amidst it all, Tottenham qualified for the Champions League after winning the Europa League under Ange Postecoglou, who was then sacked and replaced by Thomas Frank. Solomon was one of Postecoglou’s first signings as Spurs boss in 2023.
Despite the change in coach, sources close to the situation at Tottenham have outlined to Leeds Live that Solomon himself - whose contract runs until 2028 - has informed the club he would ideally like to stay on in north London. Claims that Frank wishes to assess Solomon before making a decision on his future have also been reinforced.
That would suggest Spurs have not made a pre-determined decision on the attacker and that Levy’s pricing reflected a figure that Spurs would not be able to refuse in any scenario. There is yet still a possibility Solomon is sold.
Amid his success at Leeds, Solomon's market value has increased to a level which one Spurs insider compared to a top-end Championship fee. Going by past examples, that would bracket him between the £30-£40million range. Given Solomon cost nothing to sign, Spurs would be set for a pure profit return.
Additionally, Tottenham currently have an issue with a lack of homegrown players for their Champions League squad and so, as a result, fringe overseas squad members could be left out.
While there have been reports that Spurs could offload Son Hueng-min, who plays on the left, the permanent signing of Mathys Tel provides a blockade to regular minutes. Richarlison has also been used there, though his future also remains ambiguous.
In the conversation with Leeds Live in May, Solomon said Daniel Farke remaining as Leeds manager would factor into his thinking over any potential proposal put forward by the Whites.
“Daniel was one of the decisions [sic] why I joined Leeds, so definitely it could be one of the reasons why I will join Leeds in the summer, why or not,” he admitted.
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