Dominic Solanke has named the Premier League defender who has ‘got everything’.
The Tottenham striker did not hesitate when asked who the toughest opponent he has faced in his career.
Solanke has named the toughest opponent he has faced in his career[/caption]
Solanke has already made 311 senior club appearances at the age of 27.
Of those, 10 have been against Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, who Solanke believes is the ‘most difficult’ to come up against.
The forward told Rio Ferdinand Presents, live at Fanatics Collectibles: “It’s always Van Dijk. He’s just got everything. Strong, quick, leader. So I’d probably say he’s the most difficult.”
Solanke has won just two of his 10 meetings with Van Dijk across his time at Bournemouth and Spurs.
Meanwhile, their remaining eight matches against each other have ended in victory for the Dutch defender, with all of them coming for Liverpool.
Van Dijk has also limited Solanke to just two goals against him, both of which were scored in defeats this season.
The England international was also asked about the young talent coming through at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Discussing which starlets fans should look out for, he said: “Other than the obvious two, Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall, who have been playing quite a bit this season.
“I think they’ve got huge careers ahead of them. They’ve been really good this season.
“Someone that hasn’t played as much, Mikey Moore. He’s a really talented boy, very direct and a good winger. So I think he’s got a bright future as well.”
Solanke has hailed the young talent coming through at Spurs[/caption]
Since signing for the club last summer, Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall have made a combined 87 appearances for Ange Postecoglou’s side.
As for Mikey Moore, the academy graduate was handed his senior debut aged 16 in May 2024.
Still only 17, he has already featured for England at Under-19 level.
The winger has made a total of 19 first-team appearances for Spurs, scoring once and providing two assists.
His tally could have been even higher had he not missed two months through illness earlier this season.
Moore has even been compared to Neymar by team-mate James Maddison this season.
The midfielder was impressed by the teenager against AZ Alkmaar in October, telling TNT Sports: “From minute 45 to 65 I thought we had Neymar on the left wing.
“He was brilliant, demanding the ball, fearless, with that young fearless mentality and you never want to take that away from him.”
Moore played a starring role in the Europa League victory before receiving a standing ovation from the crowd as he was withdrawn.
Solanke was speaking to Ferdinand alongside friend and footballing rival Tosin Adarabioyo at Fanatics Collectibles.
The Spurs and Chelsea stars are both trading card collectors and joined Rio Ferdinand at the new store on Regent Street to celebrate the opening.
They attended a star-studded event the day before Formula 1 icon Lewis Hamilton cut the ribbon in front of huge crowds in central London.
