Tottenham’s decision on Manor Solomon looked relatively straightforward a few months ago.
The winger was barely involved in North London, so his January loan move to Fiorentina was important for everyone involved. Spurs needed him playing regularly again. Meanwhile, Solomon needed to prove he could still be an effective attacking option at a high level.
For a while, it looked like the plan was working perfectly.
Solomon settled quickly in Florence and there was growing confidence Fiorentina would trigger their purchase option at the end of the season.
Now, though, the situation has become much more complicated. And Spurs are watching closely because they probably do not see Solomon returning as part of their plans next season.
Plans changing in Italy
The 26-year-old heads into the final weeks of the campaign effectively playing for his future, with Italian outlet Firenze Viola explaining Fiorentina are no longer fully convinced about making the move permanent.
Solomon made a bright start in Italy. He brought direct running, creativity and intensity in wide areas, while also helping cover for Albert Gudmundsson’s inconsistent form. At one point, there was even a feeling he had pushed ahead of the Iceland international in the pecking order.
The Tottenham player chipped in with two goals and one assist and looked like a natural fit for Fiorentina’s attack. Then came another injury setback.
Injury setback changed the picture
According to Firenze Viola, Solomon’s thigh injury against Jagiellonia in February kept him out for almost two months. However, that absence seems to have changed the mood internally at Fiorentina.
The Italian side are now expected to take a step back before making a final decision. Part of that depends on who becomes the club’s next manager, while there are also fresh concerns about Solomon’s fitness record after another stop-start campaign.
That uncertainty is not ideal for Tottenham either. Mostly because the feeling is that Spurs would much rather secure a permanent transfer this summer. They would prefer this option than to reintegrate him into the squad.
Fiorentina currently hold a purchase option worth around £8.5m (€10m). Earlier this year, that looked like decent value given Solomon’s impact. Now, though, the deal suddenly feels much less certain.
Tottenham likely need a sale
Manor Solomon is reportedly keen to stay in Florence and will use the final matches of the campaign to try to change minds internally. The report says he will “play for his contract”. He is expected to start against Genoa this weekend, which could become one of the biggest games of his season.
Spurs are expected to reshape parts of their attack this summer, and Solomon does not currently look like someone being lined up for a fresh chance in De Zerbi’s plans.
If Fiorentina walk away from the clause, Tottenham may suddenly need to find another buyer in a market where clubs will already be looking closely at his injury history.
Right now, the feeling in Italy is that Solomon’s future in Florence is hanging by a thread – and Tottenham probably need it to work out.