Think he is a great signing as well but not so sure about the low price or signing him early.
Keita moved for Ł1.3m three years ago, Dembele cost Ł15m a year ago and goes for nearly ten times that amount a year later.
With the reluctance for clubs to sell players being able to identify young players is going to be even more important.
So well done FSG and Edwards for bringing in Solanke who could prove to be an absolute gem.
Agreed on the latter part of your post.
As for the first point, it is a low price relative to the market this window and next, and taking into account his undeniable quality.
Absolutely, bringing in the likes of a Dembele or Keita at a fraction of the price they eventually get sold for would represent a well oiled scouting and transfer committee. But that takes time, and positively acknowledging that we've now gone from crawling to walking doesn't mean we're content with not running.
I have no faith that a few years prior , our transfer committee would have had the imagination and perseverance to have wrapped up Keita signing in the way we did. In fact, I don't believe we were even that attractive as a club. In that context, this transfer and window in general is certainly a big step forward. Could we have done more, wrapped up Van Dijk, identified the next Keita, absolutely. But Solanke for pittance, Keita for 60 mill, Salah for 30 mil, Robertson for 10mil, and Oxlade for 35mill, all in one summer. I'll take that for now.
