Shakhtar Donetsk has threatened to sue Tottenham if they sign Israeli midfielder Manor Solomon without paying a transfer fee. Solomon took advantage of FIFA rules in July last year, which allowed Shakhtar’s legionnaires to unilaterally suspend their contracts and move abroad on loan. Tottenham is said to be actively interested in signing the 23-year-old midfielder. However, Shakhtar CEO Sergei Palkin said that the club would take legal action against any club that tries to sign their players for free, calling it “unjust enrichment.” Solomon’s contract with Shakhtar is valid until the end of this year.
Shakhtar CEO Sergei Palkin has commented on the possible transfer of Israeli midfielder Manor Solomon to Tottenham and said that the Donetsk side will sue clubs who want to take the Pitmen player for free.
Manor Solomon in July last year took advantage of FIFA rules, which allowed the Ukrainian club’s legionnaires to unilaterally suspend their contracts and move from Shakhtar to the English Fulham on loan.
The general director of the Donetsk club, Sergei Palkin, said he invited the Israeli midfielder to return to Ukraine, but was turned down.
“I contacted Solomon and his agent and invited the player back to our club. I said: “You can play all the games in the Champions League, you will be in the starting eleven.” But he doesn’t want to move and I think he will stay in England,” Palkin said.
Solomon’s Manor. Photo: Fulham FC
Solomon is actively interested in Tottenham in London. The top English club want to take advantage of the FIFA rules, which have been extended until the summer of 2024.
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Palkin said that Shakhtar would sue Tottenham if Solomon moved to the London club for free.
“I don’t know where Sulaiman will go. In any case, if he goes to Tottenham, in this case we will deal with this club in court. It all comes down to a simple situation – it looks like unjust enrichment,” Palkin said.
The general director of the Donetsk club considers the situation with his legionnaire contract unfair.
“Can you imagine we paid a lot of money for this player, and in the end Tottenham got him for free? It’s not fair to our club. We will definitely go to court and fight for ourselves,” said Palkin.
Palkin warned clubs looking to sign Shakhtar players with the help of FIFA rules.
“We believe that the clubs that enriched themselves at the expense of Shakhtar will be required to pay compensation. These clubs need to understand what they are doing when they decide to sign our players,” added Palkin in an interview with ESPN.
Sergei Palkin. Photo: FC Shakhtar
- The 23-year-old Solomon moved to Shakhtar from Maccabi (Petah Tikva) in January 2019 and played 106 games for the Donetsk side, scoring 22 goals and making nine assists.
- Last season, Manor played on loan for Fulham, where he made 24 appearances and scored five goals.
- The Israeli midfielder’s contract with the Ukrainian club is valid until the end of this year.
