Antonio Conte: Dominic Solanke wants to leave

Updated 17/02/2017 at 16:38 GMT

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has revealed that talented youngster Dominic Solanke wants to leave at the end of the season.

Chelsea's Nathaniel Chalobah with Dominic Solanke and Ola Aina in the ground before the match

Image credit: Reuters

Solanke has been with Chelsea for over 10 years despite only turning 19 in September, making his senior debut in October 2014 during a Champions League game against Maribor.

He was one of the players highlighted by former manager Jose Mourinho, on his return to the club, as a future England regular but has struggled for game time over the past 18 months.

With his contract due to expire at the end of the season there have been numerous reports saying that no extension is likely because of Chelsea's reluctance to meet his reported demands of £50,000 a week.

Premier League

Henderson agrees personal terms with Nottingham Forest - reports

15/06/2022 at 17:30

England's Dominic Solanke

Image credit: Reuters

Speaking at his new conference ahead of the FA Cup game against Wolves Conte said: "I think this is his [Solanke's] will (to leave).

"I have spoken with him to try to understand his will. But we must have great respect for every decision that the player can take.

"His contract expires in June and he has the full will to stay in Chelsea or to go away."

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte

Image credit: Reuters

No Chelsea academy player has become a regular member of the first team since captain John Terry, whose own future is up in the air, but Nathaniel Chalobah, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Ola Aina are all parts of Conte's squad at the moment.

A report from The Sun on Thursday evening said that were Solanke to leave then Liverpool could be his destination, with Celtic also mentioned as having an interest.

OUR VIEW

In some ways Chelsea should be applauded. They are refusing to be held to ransom by a young player and not giving him absurd wages having barely featured for the first team.

However, having said that, all would be well and good had they not already given Ruben Loftus-Cheek an even more ludicrous wage.

Reports at the time of Loftus-Cheek's renewal last year quoted his wage to be up to £60,000 a week and he still hasn't really hit the heights of Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli, who he earns more than.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek applauds the Chelsea fans

Image credit: AFP

The point is that whilst Chelsea's stance is technically correct they've already dug themselves into a whole because of the Loftus-Cheek scenario.

Players, and by definition their agents, know Chelsea can afford to pay these sorts of wages and some will do their best to try and get as much as they can.

Chelsea need to cut their losses on Solanke if he is intent on leaving and invest in Tammy Abraham, a player who is just a couple of months younger but already seems to be thriving in professional football.