AFC BOURNEMOUTH star Dominic Solanke insisted he is happy at the club despite speculation over his future, stating that “it’s a part of football”.

After a fine campaign in front of goal, Solanke grabbing 19 goals in 38 Premier League appearances, Cherries’ talisman has naturally been linked with clubs elsewhere.

Recent reports state that Solanke’s latest deal, signed at the start of the 2023/24 season, contains a £65million release clause – that can only be met by certain clubs, namely the ‘Big six’.

Solanke’s former club, Chelsea, were briefly linked with bringing the striker back to London, only to apparently balk at the price tag and drop their interest.

Fellow Londoners Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have also been credited with an interest, but it appears that Solanke does not have any out-and-out suitors at the time of writing.

Having joined Cherries in January 2019 from Liverpool for a fee reportedly in the region of £19million, Solanke has gone on to score 77 goals in 216 appearances for AFC Bournemouth.

Despite a prolific season in front of goal, the 26-year-old was snubbed by England manager Gareth Southgate, Solanke left out entirely of England’s plans for the Euros this summer.

Whilst pundits and Solanke’s former teammates have expressed a belief that the forward may have to leave the Vitality Stadium to force his way into Southgate’s plans, the striker himself shared how he was content on the south coast.

Speaking exclusively to the Daily Echo at the end of the season, Solanke shared: “When you do well, there's always going to be that speculation.

“Speculation, it's part of football really. But, I'm happy here and I've had a great season here.”

In the form of his life during the 2023/24 season, Solanke is certainly nowhere near retirement.

However, the one-time England international has started his UEFA B coaching badges to give himself options come the end of his career.

“We've actually done quite a few sessions now,” restarted Solanke.

“So hopefully it won't be too many more sessions before I get my B license.

“It’s something I wouldn't say I definitely want to be a manager after football, but it's definitely something that could be an option.

“So I thought, it’s not a bad time to just start getting that ball rolling.”

Asked if coaching gives him a new perspective on the game, Solanke replied: “It does.

“You start to kind of see things differently. Not completely, because ultimately you're still a player and playing.

“But you do start to take the other side of the game under consideration as well."