Reds to sign young striker as summer plans announced

Liverpool FC to sign striker Dominic Solanke from Chelsea, while summer plans take shape as the club announces Hong Kong fixtures and a clash in Dublin in August.

The season may have finished, but Liverpool Football Club never rests and plans are being put in place ahead of a busy summer.

Dominic Solanke, the 19-year-old Chelsea striker, will join the Reds on July 1 on the expiry of his deal at the London club.

The England youth international is very highly regarded, having made his debut for the Chelsea first team in October 2014 and gone on to score seven goals in a highly successful loan spell with Dutch outfit Vitesse Arnhem in 2015-16.

He has represented his country at every age level from U16 to U21 and is currently in South Korea for the FIFA U20 World Cup, where the forward has so far featured in all three games and scored once to help England into the knockout stages.

Meanwhile, the Reds’ closing day victory over Middlesbrough ensured that UEFA Champions League football would be returning to Anfield in the autumn, with the club facing a two-legged qualifier in August in a bid to enter the group stages.

Ahead of that, Jürgen Klopp will bring LFC to Hong Kong in July.

The club will face Crystal Palace in their opening game at the Premier League Asia Trophy in Hong Kong this summer.

The meeting is set for a 1.30pm BST (8.30pm local time) kick-off on Wednesday July 19, at Hong Kong Stadium.

Full details, including information on tickets, can be found here.

With a trip to Berlin to play Hertha BSC already in place as well as the Audi Cup in Munich – where the club will be joined by Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid and a fourth side to be confirmed – it has been announced that Klopp and co. will travel to Dublin for a friendly against Athletic Club de Bilbao on Saturday August 5 at the Aviva Stadium.

LFC ambassador Ian Rush, who scored the goal against Athletic last time the clubs met in 1983, said: “We always get such an amazing reception in Dublin.

“Even though this is a friendly game, I’m sure our incredible Irish supporters will make the atmosphere just as good when we meet Athletic Club this time around.”

One man Irish fans will be hoping to see in the flesh will be Philippe Coutinho.

The Brazilian enjoyed his best season yet for the club last term and will now look forward to taking on a leading role for the Merseyside club in Europe’s top club competition.

Former Liverpool FC playmaker Luis Garcia has high hopes for the 24-year-old next season.

“He was very good at the beginning of the season and after a couple of injuries, we missed him very much,” Garcia said of LFC’s No.10 during a conversation with Liverpoolfc.com.

“He arrived fresh at the end and showed what he is capable of – amazing goals, tricks, flicks, every kind of fantastic play, giving the team the extra that is needed against difficult teams who play compact at the back, very deep, with no space in between the lines.

“You need to have that pass that is perfect – not long, not short, the perfect speed at the right angle. He is one of the best in the league. He showed it with the pass that no-one was expecting to Sturridge [at West Ham]. He is one of the most important players for the team and he showed it at the end of the season.

“He is one of those who can make the difference for a team, it doesn’t matter what team. We are lucky to have him. I would love to see him play in the Champions League next year.”