Steve Bruce: 'Liverpool Dominic Solanke deal ludicrous'

By Jonny Whitfield, Reporter | 29 November 2017

Bruce: 'Liverpool Solanke deal ludicrous'

Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce says that Liverpool striker Dominic Solanke's move to the club, as well as his involvement with England, is "ludicrous"

Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce has said that Liverpool striker Dominic Solanke's move to the club, as well as his involvement with England, is "ludicrous".

Solanke, who moved to Anfield from Chelsea in the summer and has played just 84 minutes of Premier League football this term, went on to make his Three Lions debut against Brazil in November.

Liverpool have relied on the goalscoring talents of Mohamed Salah, who has scored 15 goals in a Reds shirt, and Bruce believes that Solanke could benefit from involvement lower down the football ladder.

"We need the larger clubs to have associations with the smaller ones," Bruce told reporters. "Feeder clubs? Yes, the general consensus is that the Under-23s isn't quite working.

"If you play when you are 18 and you are successful, you need the next step. At the moment, we've got the ludicrous situation of Solanke playing for England when he's hardly had a game with Liverpool. That can't be right.

"We have young players all over the country doing well - but not playing. I think something like a draft system could work. Loans definitely benefit parent clubs."

Solanke has only made substitute appearances in the top flight for Jurgen Klopp's side this term.