Manor Solomon Leeds United
Manor Solomon is a name Leeds United fans will not forget for a long time. After a season of nearly making the Premier League and falling short at the last hurdle, there was not much hope heading into the 2024/25 campaign.
When the Whites lost the Championship play-off final to Southampton in the summer of 2024, it lead to a very busy few months in the transfer window. A lot of players left the club after failing to make it to the Premier League.
Most Read on The Leeds Press
Daniel Farke lost key players that summer window including Archie Gray, Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter. The trio had been part of one of the best performing Leeds attacks in recent years. Farke did not get much in quality that window when it came to replacing these options.
In fact, it took a late push from the Leeds boss himself to get some key signings towards the deadline. In came Manor Solomon and Ao Tanaka, two players who played a key part in the Whites winning promotion that year. And it was poetic that Solomon was the player who scored the late winner on the final day to win the Championship title.
Former Leeds target’s season has been a disaster
After crowning a successful year in West Yorkshire, many fans thought the club would show ambition in the summer. Manor Solomon was one of the players heavily tipped to complete a permanent deal to Leeds United from Tottenham Hotspur. But as the summer went on, it was only rumours and no concrete effort was made. The winger eventually ended up joining Villarreal on loan in the final minutes of transfer deadline day.
There were early signs that the move was not the right one, as the club’s fans were outraged by the signing. Some even wrote to club officials about the transfer. Regardless, Solomon, who told the fans he was here for football not politics, got off to a flying start in Spain, with a goal and assist in his first two games. But everything seems to have gone downhill since then.
The 26-year old has made just four appearances in all competitions since September, and it looks like coach Marcelino is not really a fan of the player. Villarreal have six games since September, showing that they basically do not need Solomon. The winger’s last two games were a Copa del Ray tie against lower-tier Ciudad de Lucena, where he had three assists, and a 34-minute substitute appearance midweek.
Solomon was not even brought off the bench for recent Champions League ties against Manchester City and parent club Tottenham. The Israeli has not played a single minute of Villareal’s last two league game, again an unused substitute – a frustrating time for a player who was key to Leeds last season.
Leeds United can hand Manor Solomon a lifeline
With all that is going on in Spain, there could be an opening for Solomon in January. The player admitted that he wanted to stay in England, but a move to Crystal Palace fell through before he chose Villarreal: “I said all the time that my goal was to stay in England, and I was supposed to stay.
“I was already close to Crystal Palace, but if you go to an amazing place like Villarreal, which plays in the Spanish league, which is the second best and it’s a strong team, then I’m very happy.”
His wish to stay in England could come true in January; if he pushes for his loan deal to end. Leeds already have a long-standing interest in the player, so a transfer could be very possible. The Whites have lacked a creative spark since Solomon was a regular last year; the winger had 12 assists and 21 big chances created last season.
Leeds could definitely use someone who can provide that this season, with the club shifting Brenden Aaronson into that position where, barring a couple of standout games, he has looked uncomfortable. Fans would likely be keen to see the winger return to West Yorkshire.
Solomon could provide Leeds and Daniel Farke with the option they need and allow them to accept a mistake in not pushing to sign him permanently in the summer. Solomon will likely want to return to Elland Road and it could boost player and club, as well as isolated Whites’ forward Dominic Calver-Lewin who has been starved of service in recent weeks.
The details of Solomon’s loan are that it is until the end of the season, with a recall option there if Spurs choose to action it. This will likely only materialise if Leeds try force Tottenham’s hand and have word from the player that he’s keen to return to Elland Road – all seems feasible but whether it happens is another matter.
Related Topics